大象传媒

PRELUDE TO WAR.

During the crisis months leading to the declaration I can recollect a drive for recruitment. A military mobile searchlight detachment, giving a display outside Ladywell Railway Station. On another occasion a squad of soldiers were halted outside my home, Algernon Road, Lewisham. Mother answered the door to an army person enquiring who lived in the house and number of bedrooms. On mothers reply two soldiers were billeted. No argument or protest. We were allocated the soldiers as were other neighbouring homes that had room. The requirement was just for sleeping. Well I remember their names, George and Jock, but not how long they were billeted with us. They went out of a morning to return in the evening using Ladywell Recreation Ground for training. I also know one year after being billeted with the family Jock returned from Dunkirk with shell shock, whether he survived the war I do not know. As for George I hold no information other than his home was in the Woolwich area. There were two young German Jewish girls that my sister, Mavis, befriended that came to live in Lewisham without their parents. I did not understand then the significance of their being in England alone!

A CAREFREE INNOCENT INTRODUCTION TO WAR

Born January 1930 made me four months off my tenth birthday at the outbreak of war.

I well record listening, with the family, to the announcement by Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain that Great Britain and Germany were now at war. Also shortly after the radio proclamation the wail of the air raid siren. I cannot recall the reaction of my parents on that Sunday morning. One imagines they must have had genuine fear being my father had experienced the horrors of the Western Front from 1915 鈥� 1918. Serving in the Rifle Brigade he was fortunate to have survived. My mother had nursed the wounded
and dying therefore held intimate scenes of the suffering created by war

In my parents having two country properties on the Isle of Sheppey, Leysdown and Warden Point it was decided mother take elder sister, Mavis, my younger brother Clifford and I to the family bungalow at Leysdown. Fathers occupation was on the national newspaper Daily Sketch, whilst elder brother Leslie was apprenticed at a city Photo Engravers, Rumph and Waite, so they stayed at home in London.

Our arrival at Leys down in the September coincided with the start of the autumn term. Enrolling in the village school I vividly recall how basic the set up was. Segregated into two or three age groups the pupils underwent their education in one large communal hall which served all purposes from school, village hall, summer fete, to Sunday school. The months of October, November and December plodded on with one or two highlights; issued gas masks, identity cards, fitting blackout curtains. My father motoring down when time allowed and the regular gunnery and bombing practise by the RAF at the floating targets just off Leysdown aerodrome. I got to recognise the Hurrican, Spitfire and Bristol Blenheim as they flew over Leysdown village to line up the off shore targets..Walking along the foreshore, when no red flag was on display, I collected many spent .303 cartridges and clips to assemble long belts of spent ammunition. Christmas of 1939 saw all the family together at our London home. Quite a safe undertaking without enemy interference. Visits to Hamleys, Gamages and other establishments reflected no scarcity of products for the festive season. Though blackout regulations put paid to any
illuminated display once daylight had gone !

Returning to Leysdown in January 1940 it was an acute winter. Heavy snow, ice and the sea froze on the foreshore which built up with every tide. Winter gave way to spring. Other than being awaken on occasions by the drone of enemy aircraft and ack ack fire as the Luftwaffa went about their business of dropping mines in the Thames estuary there was no indication of being at war. For the Easter holiday the family returned to Lewisham to then go bask to Sheppey for the summer term. On the beach oranges, some in crates were washed up. No doubt from destroyed cargo vessels falling victim to the mines laid in the estuary. There was talk of drums of petrol washed ashore which was quickly acquired by the local menfolk. I cannot remember seeing such drums! There was much timber coming ashore especially long heavy lengths which was collected. Also on the beach were sea mines that must have broken lose and drifted ashore, these of course were rendered safe. The announcement and general concern of the fall of France left my young mind with no foreboding. I was aware of the Dunkirk evacuation though hold no memory of the heighten activity in the estuary, or, knowledge of vessels landing personnel at Sheerness before sailing back to further assist in the rescue.

INGENUOUS YOUTH ENDS.

My first serious attention to war came early one morning. I now know from researching records it was around 6.30 a.m. August 13th 鈥� Goerings Adler Tag Day. My father was on his summer holiday with the family, whom had temporary moved from Leysdown to the cottage at Warden Point. The noise of low flying aircraft and explosions woke us from our slumbers. Well remember father hurrying the family to an old WW1 pill box that was a few yards from the cottage overlooking the estuary. This very construction I had often played in and around during happier times spent at Warden Point. Sheltering in the pill box the noise of battle continued as Eastchurch aerodrome came under attack. From that morning the Battle of Britain raged over and around the Isle of Sheppey.

At Warden Point I had the geographical advantage of overlooking the entire Thames Estuary witnessing frequent battles. Much comes to mind... First a flash then puff of smoke as a AA shell bursts amongst aircraft attacking Sheerness dockyard, or, fly up the Medway to Chatham Naval Base. Many little incidents occur from my high vantage point on the cliffs. A parachute desending well out in the estuary where a friendly or foe aircraft had been hit. A RAF fighter flying low along the cliff waging its wings in victory. The ongoing activity of warships leaving or returning into the estuary. Many times the family, along with local residents, sheltered in the pill box on hostility becoming too near or intense.

One outstanding memory was on the day the unoperational Leysdown aerodrome was bombed. My father, still on holiday, took mother, Mavis and Clifford back to Leysdown to see whether the bungalow had suffered in the raid. I stayed with a friend at Warden Bay, family name Barker. There were four boys in the family and their bungalow was called 鈥淔our Boys鈥� ! Playing in the area that afternoon an air battle developed overhead. I could not see the aircraft, being overcast. With soldiers billeted in vacant properties in Warden Bay they instructed we hurry home. I remember Mrs. Barker placing all five of us in the hallway under a table as the noise of battle increased. Sixty years on I still hold a vivid memory of the sequence that unfolded and the terror. The noise of aircraft engines and gunfire was loud when above the cacophony there came a tremendous roar ever increasing followed by an explosion that shook the ground and bungalow. The explosion seemed centred at the back and I remember going into a rear room directly following the explosion 鈥� likely a panic situation. I clearly remember, on looking out into the garden, an unattached tail of an aircraft slowly floating down into a neighbouring property on which I noticed a swastika. My memory pictures Mrs. Barker, whom must have also been in shock, gathering all five of us into a room to calm down. On the battle passing we ventured out to be told, by a soldier, to go back as ammunition was exploding from a crashed aircraft. Eventually we made our way to the destroyed aircraft which was about 100 yards from the 鈥淔our Boys鈥� bungalow. The main fuselarge was deeply embedded in the ground and over a wide area was scattered aircraft debris. Soldiers kept us at a safe distance talking of an enemy Messerchmitt 110. Later my parents arrived back from Leysdown as they were also under the airbattle and seen the smoke from the crashed aeroplane.

From limited research I can now confirm the aircraft was a Me 110 shot down by F/Lt
P.S.Weaver from 56 squadron, North Weald. The date was August 16th 1940 with the German crew being Willie Ebden and Fush, christian name I do not know. Neither know which was the pilot or observer. One body was found in the cockpit with another laying some distance from the aircraft remains. For a number of years they remained buried in Leysdown churchyard alongside RAF personel to eventually be exhumed and returned to Germany. The terrible roar was probably created in the aeroplane crashing with both engines under power. The descending aircraft tail was likely one of the twin tailplanes wrenched off as the aeroplane broke up whilst plunging down at speed. Furthur of interest. Research shows F/Lt Weaver returned to refuel and rearm to fight another battle later that evening. He was shot down, parachuting out he landed near Fletchers Coastal Battery, Minster, which is around three miles from his earlier destroyed victim at Warden Bay.

Daily air battles were fought over south England. Being on the Isle of Sheppey one was never far removed from the sound of gunfire or aircraft, or, the sight of flying formations. Many sparce memories are held of everyday incidents. A RAF fighter, under guard, that had landed on the outskirts of Leysdown, awaiting to be taken away. A crashed Dornier on the edge of Leysdown aerodrome, another German bomber in the farm yard near to Leysdown church. Such information circulated around the village juniors and where possible a cycle trip to the site was made. My father relating, on one of his visits to the family, how he had driven into a battle over Brambledown and jettisoned bombs had cratered the road. He had to drive through a field to overcome the hazard to get back on the road. Another incident when we three children were traveling in the car, likely from a trip into Sheerness, along the lower road to Eastchurch. Father pulled up sharp to get us into a roadside ditch. Eastchurch aerodrome was under attack. Crouched in the ditch the noise of battle continued though it was not possible, owing to trees either side of the road, to witness the action all around. I recall, following the raid crawling out of the ditch a man came out of a roadside property ahead and spoke to my father of the continuing air attacks on the aerodrome. By mid August Leysdown beach was not easily accessible with barbed wire, tank traps and signs warning of mined areas. Many fields suitable for aircraft, or, gliders to land had poles driven into the ground. Defenses were under construction and many haunts frequented by local children were no longer able to be reached. The sight and sound of aircraft blended with gunfire, explosions, continued whilst army personal becoming more noticeable in and around Leysdown. As August progressed the probability of an invasion gave concern. It was time to leave the vulnerability of the coast to return to London. On the return journey the family ran into a raid on the Medway towns. Quickly getting out the car we all took cover in a surface shelter at the foot of Chatham Hill. The target was probably the Chatham Naval Base or Shorts Aircraft Factory, Rochester.

Our return to Lewisham coincided with the start of daylight raids on the capital followed by the night blitz. I witnessed high flying battles before rushing for cover, smoke climbing high into the sky from the bombed docks; life became confined with no freedom to roam. Following a heavy afternoon raid Lewisham High Street became impassable. To bye pass the main route through Lewisham traffic had to use Algernon Road, where I lived. Standing at the gate I well remember open lorries with furniture and families on board passing by. The ultimate of war, in destroyed homes and those that survived becoming homeless. Daylight and night bombing merged, no longer was it safe to sleep in our bedrooms. Father reinforced the cellar with heavy timber and constructed bunks. Here we lived out the hours of darkness to the noise of action 鈥� sometimes local 鈥� sometimes distant. The nearest bomb fell on a house in Vicars Hill which was the house that backed onto our rear garden. There was a park a short distance from home, Hilly Fields, where a heavy ack ack battery was established. When in action the noise was both deafening and frightening. Most nights mother was our sole guardian owing to father working of a night at the Daily Sketch, Grays Inn Road. Father left around eight in the evening to return around 6 a.m. The journey up to the city was through the blitz with the return trip equally dangerous. There were occasions when trains, buses, trams could not get through the blitz leaving no option than to walk. Convention to work was different sixty years back ! Life became intolerable and extremely dangerous. To venture out had to be local and other than collecting shrapnel life became contained. This is a ghastly memory of that period.

In October 1940 mother took sister Mavis to Garnant, South Wales. Mavis had attended Addey and Stanhope School, New Cross, prior to be outbreak of hostility. Now it was evacuated to South Wales. With good fortune Mavis was taken in by a Mrs. Blodwen Thomas of Twyn, Garnant. On Mrs. Thomas learning of Clifford and myself being still at home the kind offer was made to accommodate my brother and I. Within a short span of time Clifford and myself were settled in the mining hamlet of Garnant.. I attended, with Mavis, Addey and Stanhope, whilst Clifford was placed in the local school. Mrs Thomas became affectionately Aunty Blod and a family bond of love and kindness grew. There were no children in the home of Mrs Thomas as she unfortunately been widowed in her late husband鈥檚 death caused by a mining accident leading to pneumonia. Aunty Blods kindness and hospitality was extended to my parents to stay on visits as there was ample room. This became a bonus. Every five to six weeks we enjoyed a visit of either one parent, or, where time off permitted both parents. With no children at home mother was directed back into nursing, while our new home became 鈥� Glanpedol, Twyn, Garnant

INNOCENCE OF YOUTH GONE FOREVER

In equality with millions of European children Mavis, Clifford and myself had our lives uprooted and transformed over the fourteen months since September 1939. Our young minds had had to adopt to separation, fear and death. Innocent adolescence had been short circuited! Evacuated to Garnant daily life became safe, though I worried for my parents safety physically knowing and experienced of the ongoing blitz. Nestling along the Amman Valley the coal mining hamlets of Gwan-Cae-Gurwen, Garnant, Glanaman and Ammanford were far removed from the unexpected noise and tension of southern England. Schooling became, once again, the daily routine with outdoor life reclaimed. Air raid shelters were non existent, air raid wardens not in evidence and the local policeman went about his duty in a soft cap with no steel helmet, or, gas mask dangling from a shoulder strap. My own gas mask was tucked away somewhere as were those fiddly little rubber ear plugs. Venturing far afield drew no concern. Misbehaviour at school was punished by detention. There was no hurry to scurry off home after school to prepare for the nightly blitz. School homework was given and to those children billeted with families where there was not the tranquility, or, privacy to study were accommodated by Addey and Stanhope setting aside class rooms of an evening and Saturday morning. The teaching staff contributed to the war effort in class trips to the lower areas of the Black Mountains collecting stagnum moss which I understand was sterilized to use as wadding in military wound dressings. Also expeditions were taken into the country and along hedgerows to collect rosehips to be used in making rosehip syrup. Though not organized the school encouraged pupils to volunteer to assist the local farms in bringing in the hay for winter fodder.

We were disciplined with reason and affection by Aunty Blod. Whilst importance was placed on education where I had to submit much of my homework and school study projects for inspection before handing into my form teacher. Becoming a member of the school and local library was a must. Aunty Blod expected of me as though I was her own child. Time had to be given in the large vegetable garden, plus a good hour each Saturday morning to collect the weeks food ration. Coal was unloaded in the street and with a wheel barrow I took the load to the coal shed. Another task was to help make Welsh pelau. This was damp coal dust mixed with clay moulded in a metal press to the shape of a small brick Left to dry out then burnt on a large iron cooking stove resembling an ancient arga. All three children were expected to contribute towards tasks to run the home. Sunday evensong had to be attended. I went to the local Church of England, whilst Clifford being that much younger attended the Chapel with Aunty Blod who followed the chapel religion. Local sights and customs became commonplace. Pit ponies taken out to exercise and graze. Miners going on shift swinging little metal cans
containing cold tea, then returning with 鈥渃oal dust faces鈥�. Accepting adults singing in their dialect as they walked along.

I experienced no animosity of the youth or elders, infact friendship was mutual. I gained much that has stood me in good stead throughout life of the knowledge gained from living five years in a close knit mining community, the harsh life of hill farmers and the importance of a religious life to the peoples of the Amman Valley.

Evacuated out of danger to Carmarthanshire news of the conflict came via the newspapers, radio and cinema newsreels. Certainly my parents visits were objectionally void of any reference to the onslaught on London neither the flying bomb or rocket which had much impact from 1944. Plus letters from my brother Leslie, flying in the RAF since 1943, in both the north African and Italian campaigns made no reference to the war. There was a lull in the bombing of London around 1943 prior to the launching of the V weapons. During that period we were allowed home for the three main school holidays, obviously my parents decided the risk was low. My memory of London was a drab scene. Bombed buildings, many cleared bomb sites walled in to accommodate large areas of water. A necessary storage following the fire bomb raids London had endured. Numerous air raid shelters with frequent signs directing to their entrance. Buses towing trailers and cars with large fabric bags on the roof to hold gas for their engines converted to gas driven. Damaged building supported by heavy wood structures. Fronts of property blown out exposing inside fire places and wall paper, suffering from the rain, peeling from the walls. On Blackheath a large battery of anti aircraft rocket launchers. Barrage Ballons prominent in the sky. There was one in Ladywell Recreation Ground which I watched being winched in. Parks an open ground was given over to allotments. My father cultivated one and whilst home I was called in to help! I remember going to the Isle of Sheppey during the Easter holiday visit home with mother. Sheppey being a restricted area could only be visited by permit. With property on the island a permit was issued. Leysdown defences were extensive. The cottage at Warden Point had been commandeered by the military. It was not possible to get to the property now behind thick barbed wire and a sentry post. The high position overlooking the Thames estuary was , no doubt, of strategic importance.

When the V1 and V11 weapons hit London I was fourteen years old and well aware of the daily risks my parents lived under. A school friend, Bobby Curtis, lost his parents and very young brother in the V weapon that demolished Woolworths, New Cross. This was felt personally by all the pupils. Other than this tragedy I can only think of three incidents directly connected with war infringing on my evacuation to Garnant . There was the Dornier bomber that was shot down, crashing on the mountain side near Brynamman. The blitz on Swansea , lasting three or four nights. Then the American army moving into the Ammanford area to undertake manoeuvers in the wild region around Lladyfan , prior to the Normandy invasion.

ON REFLECTION.

Many south east London Schools were evacuated along the Amman Valley. I am proud to have witnessed our nations attitude of the 1940s; and now much older can reflect.

Parents entrusted their children completely in the hands of unknown strangers. These strangers uprooted their homes and families to accommodate the evacuees. Local schools and educational authorities must have been stretched in allocating extra facilities to place incoming schools teaching space and recreational ground. Whilst these young evacuated children had to adjust to foster parents, a different culture, religion... They were on their own living through uncertain times!

CONCLUSION.

With the departure of Addey and Stanhope School from New Cross, 1939, the premises was later taken over by the London Auxilary Fire Service . On the European conflict coming to a close the school reverted to its original purpose and the good peoples of the Amman Valley lost their army of evacuees 鈥� but not our mutual memories and respect. For me, personally, the experience and knowledge gained during the whole period of 1939 鈥� 1945 could never have been obtained from study, or, reading 鈥︹�︹��. it was graphic in indoctrination. The strong family connections were maintained with Aunty Blod up to her death in the 1980s and her burial on the mountainside at Bethel Chapel, Glanaman . Diminishing contact with Garnant still remains from those days of sixty plus years ago, though the thread of connection has become very thin.

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