大象传媒

This story has been added by CSV volunteer Linda Clark on behalf of the author Kenneth H. Rickard. It is an extract from a book he wrote in 2004 called 'St Dennis and Goss Moor', published by Halsgrove of Tiverton, Devon.

Children were encouraged to buy National Savings Stamps and Certificates. There were occassions when Royal Air Force personnel would bring a bomb to the school, supposedly destined to be dropped on Germany, on which children would be encouraged to stick National Savings Stamps. Whether these bombs were actually ever used is a matter of opinion.
In 1940, when gas attacks were considered a possibility, everyone was issued with a gas mask. These had to be carried at all times in a square cardboard box with a carrying strap. At school pupils had to carry out gas mask drills at regular intervals, which involved wearing a gas mask for about ten minutes at a time. Most children hated this drill, with a strong smell of rubber and its claustrophobic feeling, the gas masks were not popular. Thankfully, the real need to use them never came about.
With all kinds of clothing and footwear being rationed the issue of new rubber boots to school children was very popular. The issue was carried out by and at the school and was limited to pupils who lived at least two miles from the school. It was no surprise when the majority of children claimed qualification for the rubber boot (Wellingtons) issue. On one occassion the Canadian Red Cross supplied various items of winter attire such as gloves, scarves, hats, socks, etc., for distribution to schoolchildren. These items were virtually impossible to obtain by civilians in this country. The author received a khaki- coloured balaclava which he gratefully wore in the winter months and treasured for many years.
Children were allowed time off from school to work on farms for a limited number of days each month in the summer. The usual work was picking up potatoes and sugarbeet after it had been dug.

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