´óÏó´«Ã½

This is a story by John Side. It has been written by his daughter Lyn Davis who kindly provided it to the Thanet Libraries and UK-Online project during the session at Broadstairs Library.

John Side — How it Began

In the summer of 1938, I had got a job at the age of 15 at a laundry at Richborough near Sandwich, which was 4 miles away from my home on the sea front at Ramsgate. I had to cycle this distance there and back in all weathers including snow, until I took a job as a clerk in the flour mill in Ramsgate.
On the day war broke out I had gone with my brother Gordon to the Sportsman at Pegwell Bay, where we used to search for lost golf balls opposite the golf course. On our way home, we heard the first air raid siren - which turned out to be a false alarm. The autumn passed with what was known as the ‘PHONEY WAR’.
Christmas arrived with some of the coldest days and heaviest snowfalls experienced. By now, everyone was issued with identity cards. My own (easy to remember) was DYK 4321. Ration books were issued, most foods were rationed and other items not food, like soap, shoes, clothes and furniture were difficult to buy. Ice creams were banned early in the war. The weekly sweet ration was 2 ounces.
We were all issued with a gas mask in a box with a string to carry it and this had to be with you all the time, and woe betide you if the air raid warden (a miserable old devil) saw you without it!
One evening at dusk a lone German Heinkel 111 flew overhead, just missing the Tidal Ball — obviously lost - I expect he finished up on the Goodwin Sands. The sea mines that were being dropped where of the magnetic type, but it wasn’t long before our boffins found a way to deal with them, but not before a few of our ships were lost including the DUNBAR CASTLE on its way to South Africa with supplies for the Transvaal.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.