大象传媒

At the outbreak of the second world war (1939-45) I was 11 years old, and was due to transfer from the junior to the senior school in September 1939, but as most of the male school teachers had been "called up" into the forces, the local schools did not open after the summer break until well into October, even then things were somewhat chaotic for quite a while. Eventually posts were filled by taking on more and more lady teachers, and also by persuading many of those who had retired to return and teach again.
My memories of the time prior to this are very limited. As an 11 year old boy, I had, of course, heard the talk of war, but it just did not mean much to me, or as far as I can recall, any of my playmates. but I never was told much about it. By coincidence just at this time my family had moved from Walsall Wood to Tipton, in fact to a nearly new, modern three bedroom house with its own proper bathroom, the first time that we had ever enjoyed such luxury. I should add that the family consisted of myself (a boy), both parents and a younger sister. My father had served in the first world war and subsequent to this had lost the use of one eye in an industrial accident.
The first few months of the war were quiet and peaceful, there seemed to be no great upheaval to affect boys of my age, things were slowly beginning to change, like being issued with ration books, and identity cards, and gas masks, not much to disturb the lives of a group of 11 year old boys. Add to this, time off from school in September and October, which as I recall were two months of wonderfully fine days
Later on we heard of boys, a few years older than ourselves, being sent to serve in one of the forces, and wondered if our turn would ever come. As time progressed we heard of children being evacuated from industrial cities, which were considered vulnerable to attack by enemy aircraft, to safer, rural parts of the country. This did not affect us, it seems that as we lived in a small town with not much industry, we were considered "neutral" in the grand plan of things.
As the war progressed the news of events were brought into the classroom by the teachers and explained to us as part of our education.
Nearby to where we lived there happened to be an area of land with roads laid ready for houses etc. to be built. It seems that just before the war methods of building council estates had been modified to roughly the following pattern. First the land (in this case fields) was levelled. Then trenches dug in which were laid the pipes to take the main services, gas, water, sewage etc. then, the trenches being filled in, the roads were marked and the main surface laid, complete with kerbstones ready to allow safe and easy access by builders vehicles etc.
This was the state the development had reached in September 1939 when war was declared, and naturally all further work on the project ceased and remained so until about 1942 when the army came, took over and fenced off the whole area to keep the public out. It then became a huge area for the repairing, parking and maintenance of all sorts of vehicles. We later realised as part of the preparations for "D" day in 1944
Not far away in another direction was a huge marl hole, which as it happens was served very closely by road and rail and also by canal. Just what minerals had been extracted I have no knowledge, but all that was left was one very big hole.
Then in about 1942-43 the army also took over this area, at the time, we, the local populace, understood it to be a storage depot. It was not until much later that we learned that it was one great big huge petrol store. Again assembled and held in readiness for the Normandy landings and the drive across Europe. Just how many thousands of cans of that highly inflammable stuff were stored there I do not know.
In looking back I realise that if Jerry had dropped a bomb or if for any reason there had been an explosion there, it would have blown away Tipton and most of the surrounding area with it.
Since accommodation at this storage area was almost non existent, the local population was asked to take in a serving man (soldier) as a lodger. As I recall these men were made very welcome, since there was not only a financial advantage, but each came with an extra allowance of rations with which to feed him, which benefited most families.
By chance we had two soldiers billeted on us, both Maltese, both privates in the British army, and as I soon learned, one was in a difficult situation, as just before the war he had married a German girl who came here to England with him. I cannot recall any of their names, but I do recall what polite, pleasant people they were. And how well she spoke English. What a terrible experience the war must have been for both them.

[This story was submitted to the People's War site by Wolverhampton Libraries on behalf of Les Inett and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions]

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