大象传媒

I remember I was 12 years old when war was declared,and along with my 2 younger brothers and Mum and Dad listened to Mr Chamberlains speech on the radio.I didn't really know what he was saying,but the look that Mum and Dad gave each other told me it was very serious.Both Mum and Dad volunteered for ARP duties.Dad was a post warden stationed at Lea Memorial park in Church Gresley,and Mum was a telephonist.I remember when the bomb fell on Baker street in Swadlincote,we were told to get dressed quickly and outside all we could see was a great ball of fire.The next day Mum was out all day for the ARP assessing damage.We had a cellar in our house,but it was very wet,so Dad rigged up a pump to keep it dry.He also built a wooden bed,put a mattress on it,so we had somewhere to sleep.We also had to have a bell in our
house,and every time the siren went off,the bell would ring and Dad would have to go.If Mum and Dad were both on duty at the same time,which did happen sometimes,we children would go to a friends house to stay or shelter in their cellar.Everyone helped each other.Dad had a building firm but when war broke out it was shut and he went to work at Midland Joinery.He had a nasty accident there and never really recovered.He contracted Meningitis and after a fall,he died in 1941.Mum was never the same after that,and gave up volunteer work and stayed at home.You eventually were able to tell the difference between our planes and German ones.When they bombed Coventry we could see the glow of fire in the night sky even from where we lived.I remember seeing a Barrage Balloon and still have a piece of one.
We moved to Landsdowne Road in Swadlincote.Rationing had started and the women would queue at Roberts and Birch in Swadlincote for food.You were allowed,
40z(100g) Bacon/ham 2oz(50g)Tea
1s 2d(6p) Meat 2oz (50g)Butter
2oz(50g)Cheese 8oz(225g)Sugar
1 shell egg each week if available,and 12oz(350g)Sweets every 4 weeks.
All the neighbours pulled together and helped each other.On a Saturday evening we would gather at someones house,having pooled our rations and have a bit of a get together.
I was at York Road School in Church Gresley but it was turned over to a First Aid post so we had to go to Hastings Road school in Swadlincote.Because there was such a lot of children we had to have part time schooling.One week we would go in a morning,the next week in an afternoon.We also had a lot of evacuees which made the number even greater.This went on for about 18 months.I remember seeing evacuees arriving at Church Gresley station.These poor bewildered children with their luggage and a label attached to their coats.They looked so lost.Everyone had to be trained to use a gas mask and I still have my certificate for going into the gas chamber.In assembly every morning we would sing patriotic songs,one of my favourites was I Vow To Thee My Country,it still brings a lump to my throat everytime I hear it.A local Doctor had a big piece of ground attached to his house,and we children were given little patches to grow onions.Most families grew their own vegetables anyway.
I joined the St Johns Ambulance Cadets to train as a First Aider.I was there when I heard the first siren sound.The Doctor who was our examiner was a real stickler for detail.We were doing artificial respiration,but we didn't have a dummy,so once I had to be the casualty.The floors were wooden and very hard,so you didn't want to lie there for very long.Even if the siren went off the Doctor would make us finish what we were doing before going to the shelters.His wife was in charge of the first aid post,and I remember once letting a door bang shut.She said to me you need to know how to shut a door properley if you want to be a Nurse,which I did.We would knit mittens,scarves,socks and balaclavas for the lads overseas.We would put our name and address inside the parcel hoping that one of them would write to us.I recieved a letter from a lad in the Navy,and it turned out he lived in Church Gresley,not far from me.Unfortunately he died when HMS Pendlebury went down.I kept his letter and some years later I gave it to one of his Sisters as a keepsake.One of my chores should have been scrubbing floors at Bretby Hospital,but instead I was asked to help care for a lady who couldn't manage on her own.
I left school and the following Monday started work at a shop in Church Gresley owned by a lady.She sold ladies fashion and baby goods.Clothing was rationed and the coupons had to be banked the same as money would be.Stock could only be bought to the value of coupons banked.I remember it was a 1/4 coupon for 1 hankie.I worked there for 12 years full time and 9 years part time.I loved it there.I only lived next door but one,so it was handy once I had my first child.
I remember May 1945 we had a big street party,everyone bought something and we had a great time.I remember the men coming home wearing chalk stripe suits,which was all the fashion.
I met my Husband in 1946.He was a Bevan boy.He had wanted to go into the Air Force but when he went with his mates to enlist they were given a number,and he drew the short straw to go down the pit.It was considered war work.He trained for 6 weeks at Cresswell colliery,and then worked at a number of other pits.Unfortunately he died quite young.
A lot of my memories are jumbled up,forgive me for that.
These memories were told to volunteer Kathy Brady and written with Maisies permission.

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