大象传媒

I was born in the Military Families Hospital Old Brompton,Gillingham,Kentin 1936. My father was a Royal Engineer stationed at Brompton Barracks although at the time I was born he was serving in Egypt. By the time war was declared I was living in Kilburn, North London, with my mother and grandmother. My father was at Dunkirk where he and some friends tried to make their escape from the beach in an old rowing boat but this failed. Eventually they were rescued by a Welsh coal boat and brought safely back to England.

My first memory of the war was my Father arriving at our flat in London, in uniform complete with rifle.
I tried to move this rifle and in so doing I broke the head of my treasured china doll. During this time I was woken by my Father shouting to my Mother---"Get June---Gerry's here!" Thinking someone was in the room I was terrified but it was the German 'planes my Father had heard and we were rushed to the shelter.
My gas mask was another nightmare as it had this awful floppy nose and was meant to be child friendly but I wouldn't have it near me, so in the end I had a small version of the black one.

My next memory was of living in North Ferriby, near Hull. My Father had been sent there to help dig people out of the rubble of Hull after it had been attacked.
I started school here in Ferriby.

Very soon we went to live with my Grandmother who was now living in Sheffield. We remained here for the rest of the war.

Dad was posted to Burma------I can still remember saying goodbye to him at the station and how my Mother and I cried as the train pulled away. Many were crying on the platform that day.
He was gone for three years!! There was no counselling for families then who were left behind.

Sheffield wasn't a good place to be during the war-----lots of bombing and we lived near the steel works which were often attacked. One night my school was burnt to the ground and so I had to start another school.

My two uncles were with us briefly but Ralph,who was in the RAF died tragically in 1944 aged 19 and Frank who was in his 20's fought in the Middle East, was captured and became a POW in Germany. He is now a Chelsea Pensioner.

Food wasn't very plentiful and sweets were non-existent in Sheffield------I can remember chewing Spanish Root which was like chewing a piece of wood but tasted like liquorish. My Mother also made mint sweets with dried milk powder and peppermint essence, which I liked very much. I also remember dried egg powder scrambled egg.

One of the sad things I remember were the children whose Mothers had received that dreaded telegram telling them that their Fathers were either dead or missing-----they were so upset.

1945 came and my Dad was coming home!!

We decorated the front of the house with Union Jacks and "Welcome Home" written on a large banner over the door.

Dad arrived home but was so emaciated-----caused by malaria and living and fighting in the jungle---------but he was home and safe.

Frank was released from the POW camp and came home but was too embarrassed to come to the front door with all the decorations so he sneaked in the back entrance!

Before Dad came home from Burma, Mum and I travelled to Gillingham for a brief holiday to visit relatives who lived in Rock Avenue and it was during this time VE Day was celebrated. I can remember joining the big street party which seemed to stretch all the way down Rock Avenue. What fun that was!

After the war we came home to live in Gillingham and then Rainham,Kent.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.