大象传媒

I was 7 years old on the 1st September 1939 and the war broke out on the 3rd.

I lived in Fazakerley, Hawksmoor Rd and later on, Longmoor lane on the corner of Dereham Cresent. My name was Muriel(Moey) Perkins. My Brothers name was Jimmy and my sister was Dorothy,(Dot and wonderful parents, who were well known in the area, mainly because my dad being black. What a dad! I remember how disappointed he was when he was turned down by the RA, as his job as a docker came under the essential works act. They worked long dangerous hours getting ships turned around quickly and out of danger.

May 31st Grandad died.May 2nd Beauty our lovelu budgie died. May 3rd 1941, the May Blitz. Aunty Jessie and gang bombed out. Aunty Jean, Anna and Louie bombed out. All arriving at our house in the the middle of the night with nothing.

But as children we still had loads of fun and families helped each other, especially when food was being rationed. My mum wwas always looking for sugar- I think she became know as Mrs Sugar.

There are lots of stories to tell. The nit nurse, scabies, itentity numbers (I still know mine. Painting newspapers with whitewash: so we could draw on it the next day. Gas masks, search lights AKAK guns, sleeping in the shelter. American soldiers"Got any gum chum". French sailors with red pom poms on their berets and touching their collars for luck. Where did that come from. I remember that French uniforms were smooths while ours were rough.

No fruit, seeing a bunch of green bananas (Ralph Brown broughtthem home from sea. Pea picking, sitting on longmoor lane bursting tar bubbles. Playing hopscotch with bits of broken glass and skipping with mum.

The happiest memory was when sudden shouts of "the war is over" Lights on, torches, fire on sticks, people in crowds hugging each other and marching off down the road. The crowd getting bigger and bigger. Everyone was singing. The song i remember most vividly is Alexander`s Ragtime Band. Come on along, come on along, let me take you by the hand.....

We ended up at the balloon barrage - the RAF camp at Field Lane. A bonfire was lit and hangiong from nooses were effigies of Hitler and Mussolini.

We had very little and yet everyting important: love, care and friendship - things that seem to be missing today.

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