大象传媒

I WAS BORN IN 1938 JUST BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR STARTED AND LIVED IN BEDMINSTER DURING THE WAR.
THIS IS NOT A STORY AS SUCH BUT MY MEMORIES.
WE DIDnt HAVE AN AIR RAID SHELTER IN THE BACK GARDEN LIKE SOME HOUSES,IT WAS STARTED BUT NEVER FINISHED THERE WAS A CONCRETE BASE WITH REINFORCED RODS STICKING UP FROM THE BASE (DAD CUT THESE OFF AFTER THE WAR IT MADE A GOOD BASE FOR HIS SHED)SO WHEN THERE WAS AN AIR RAID WE HAD TO RUN TO THE SHELTER ACROSS THE ROAD,IT WAS AN OLD DISUSED BANK WE SHELTERED IN THE VAULT I CAN REMEMBER THE METAL SHELVES WHERE THE MONEY WAS KEPT I USED TO SLEEP ON ONE OF THOSE SHELVES.
I CAN REMEMBER THE GERMAN BOMBERS THE DRONE FROM THE ENGINES THE GUNS GOING OFF AND THE SEARCHLIGHTS THE BOMBERS WERE HEADING FOR BRISTOL DOCKS,A LOT OF HOUSES AND SHOPS WERE HIT NEAR WHERE I LIVED NOTHING WAS LEFT STANDING AT THE END OF THE STREET BOTH SIDES AND ACROSS THE MAIN ROAD THE SHOPS AND HOUSES WERE GONE THE HOUSE OPPSITE WHERE WE LIVED WAS ALSO HIT THE BOMBS MISSED THE DOCKS AND HIT THE HOUSES,AFTER A RAID WE KIDS WENT ON THE BOMB SITES LOOKING FOR SHRAPNEL.I REMEMBER A LARGE PIPE IN THE GUTTER OUT SIDE OUR HOUSE RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE STREET IT CAME FROM A HUGE WATER TANK BUILT ON A BOMB SITE AT THE END OF OUR STREET IT WAS FOR THE FIRE FIGHTERS TO USE.
SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A AIR RAID SHELTER JUST OFF SOUTH STREET I ATTENDED SOUTH STREET SCHOOL THERE WERE LARGE AREAS OF BOMB DAMAGE AROUND THE SCHOOL I CAN REMEMBER THE SHELTER THAT WENT UNDER THE PLAYGROUND IS IT STILL THERE?
NOT FAR FROM WHERE WE LIVED WAS AN AMERICAN BASE WE USED TO CALL IT THE WHITE CITY I DONT KNOW IF THAT WAS THE CORRECT NAME OR NOT ITS NOW A BOWLING ALLEY NEAR ASHTON PARK,THE YANKS WERE VERY GOOD THEY USED TO GIVE US KIDS SWEETS AND GUM WHAT A LUXURY.DOWN THE ROAD AT THE BACK OF THE OLD BONDED WAREHOUSE WAS A GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP IT MUST HAVE BEEN AFTER THE WAR ENDED THAT I SAW THESE GERMANS FROM THE CAMP WALKING THROUGH THE STREETS THEY HAD THE LETTERS POW ON THE UNIFORM THEY HAD ON,I USED TO THINK WHY ARE THEY WALKING AROUND AFTER ALL THEY DID TRY TO KILL US.THOUGHTS OF A CHILD.TO END THESE MEMORIES CAN YOU REMEMBER WORKMEN CUTTING DOWN IRON RAILINGS FROM PEOPLES FRONT GARDEN WALLS? I CAN

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