大象传媒

I remember, after having an operation for a mastoid in the Birmingham Children's Hospital, my head was all wrapped up and most of my hair had been shaved off - I was about 4 years of age. The hospital was in the centre of Birmingham so was vulnerable to bomb attacks therefore it was necessary to transfer all patients, who were able to be moved, out of the city and into the countryside.

My transfer was to a village named Bromyard and I was taken there by military ambulance. At the age of 4, this was all an adventure, apart from the fact that my left ear hurt! It was a very traumatic time for my family - my parents, older brother and sister, who were all left behind amidst the bombing.

My home was close to a railway goods depot where many items of military equipment were stored. This was a target for enemy bombing and it was bombed several times resulting in the people of the locality having to flee to the public air raid shelters or take refuge in the Anderson shelters in their back gardens. We were helped to the public shelters by the Home Guard. They were always very crowded places, all very strange to a young toddler.

It is but a dim memory in my mind but my family and I all survived and lived to tell the tale.

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