大象传媒

We lived in Southall and I was just 11 years old when it started. I used to get up early every morning to go shrapnel hunting. My sisters, friends and I used to play in dry bomb craters and bomb damaged houses with blown off doors and broken windows that the owners had left as unliveable.

I left school when I was thirteen and went to T.S. Mercury (a very strict pre-nautical training establishment beside River Hamble. One day, I was home on leave. I was coming out of the door and my neighbour, Charlie Balham was going in. I'd been away so long, I didn't know he was in the army until that day when we were both on leave at the same time and he was in uniform. I said hello Charlie.' And he said, 'Hello'

Even then I didn't know he was a commando until my sister told me, long after the war. I just wish I knew if Charlie made it safely.

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Helena Noifeld of 大象传媒 Radio Kent and has been added to the website on behalf of Peter Battell with his permission. He fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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