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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by a volunteer from ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Berkshire on behalf of Mrs Audrey Jones and has been added to the site with her permission. Audrey Jones fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I was 3 years old when the story began and I lived in Wallasey on the Wirral. Our house was only a stones throw from the Bidston Dock — part of Birkenhead Docks.

I only have 3 clear memories of the blitz — I think in early 1941.

I remember the allotments behind our house being on fire from incendiary bombs which all seemed very exciting to me.

When there was a raid on everyone had to put their household fires out so as not to show a red glow from the chimneys (and so guide enemy aircraft). During one raid my mother put the precious butter in the dish on the hearth to keep it ready for spreading as we would want something to eat when the raid was over. Unfortunately, blasts from the bombs bought all the soot down the chimney and there was no lid on the butter dish! We lost it all and you couldn’t just go out and buy some more in those days.

During one raid bombs were dropped on a rocky park area at the top of our road. A large rock was thrown through the air and came right through our roof and onto my grandmother’s bed. Luckily she was downstairs at the time!

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