大象传媒

Chapter four

By 1942 we had 2,000 raids and only 10 days of food left on the Island. We were warned that if the ships didn't get through the situation would be almost past critical. In august of that year we watched the ships go ascross the bay. A very long-sighted friend could see and we went and stood on the cliff and watched. We did not know what they would bring. I know one consigment we were given was knitting wool. Mum was not impressed. But the other ships got through with great difficulty and food supply was a bit better. The main thing the forces needed was fuel, I'm afraid it didn't mean a lot to us, we were just so hungry and glad that the seige was over.

King George honoured the island and its people with the George Cross and my mum took the family to see the plaque. The King also came to Malta in 1943, but I don't remember anything baout the visit.

My dad got a transfer into the Royal Engineers and we were repatriated to the UK. On Good Friday Easter 1944, we flew by a Flying Fortress bomber to Gibraltar. We thought we were being machne gunned, one of the airmen told us it was hailstones. We stayed in a hospital in Gibraltar for a week, mum was warned not to let us eat too much. I can remember sausage and mash.

All the shops were shut for the Bank holiday. Somewhere must have been open as mum bought me a cross and chain.

The rest of the journey was by ship. The ship had no name but we were told it was the Dunata Castle. Once again there was food. I could not eat as I was so seasick and spent most of my five days in my bunk. Mum bought me rolls and butter and drinks. I was sorry to miss going round the ship and especially the engine room. At one time we were all ushered down into a lower deck to watch a music hall put on by the soldiers and sailors. It was very impromptu and later we were to discover that we had been in a raid, bombs either side. I can't remember anymore.

We arrived in Scotland and there were forces on the other ships going away and they lined up on the desks and called out "you lucky people."

We came back to London for a few days and stayed with an Aunt and Uncle until a suitable requisitioned flat was found for us. We were given utility furniture and grey blankets and the family rallied around for necessities. We each had a small suitacse made out of packing case wood. I still have mine, a neighbour made it into a needlework box.

The school board man came and wanted to know why I was not at school. Mum explained about us but he didn't want to know so my brother and I went to school after the Easter holidays. We hadn't been in England for very long when a doodlebug hit the bus station in Leyton. My brother Victor and I were evacuated to Devon and mum and my sister to went to Manchester, where my sister made nuts and bolts.

By the July 1944 the family had been seperated for the first time.

We were reunited when my father came out of the forces and my sister and mum came back to Lonodn.

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