大象传媒

I was five years old a week after war broke out, and have since discovered that because of the emegency I didn't start school until two weeks later instead of 4th September! Although young I still have some vivid memories. Our first shelter was under the stairs, but it was too cramped for four children (including our evacuee) Also my mum and dad decided that the noise coming from that quarter was too much so from then on it was under the table. Unless the raiders had passed overhead or there was no raid (in Trowbridge we escaped the worst of the bombing) then it was ludo and suchlike - a game that often continued at regular intervals during the night. Then it was not school until 10 o'clock, but again lessons were interrupted by constant visits to the shelters. We were however specially favoured. As we lived near the school rather than shelter in the Parish Church which my parents thought too dangerous we were allowed to run home Panic.The first air-raid warning is still fresh in my mind. We were hastily bundled down stairs - my bed was next to mum and dad's - we only had two bedrooms between six of us. Desperate efforts by mum to find her stockings - later discovered in the utensil under the bed not now normally used! More memories, but how could a small boy remember how it had started - the fateful broadcast by Mr. Chamberlain. I could remember more the sombre tone of Winston Churchill as the family gathered around the radio. Not a word was allowed or it was up to our bedroom. Was I really the first child in the street to try on a gasmask. I am told this was so, but I can still remember the yellow bus slowing coming down the street stopping at every house. Then my mother was busy sticking strips of brown paper criss-crossed over the windows. At that age dangers were not always apparent. I didn't realize that the vapour trails were the the result of the Battle of Britain going on overhead - one day a spent bullet case landed on the scullery roof where I was playing. As the war went on we realized more and more of what was going on and many experiences in and around Trowbridge will hopefully provide more memories and recollections for future stories.

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