大象传媒

Although I was only 7 years old at the time, I still remember the announcement on the radio that Great Britain was now at war with Germany. I felt the atmosphere of gloom and foreboding. But there was a strong community feeling. It was 'Us' against the Germans and the Nazis and later the Japanese.
People seemed determined to carry on as normally as possible. We were urged to "Dig for Victory". Plots of uncultivated land locally were ploughed over and converted into allotments. My father had one. Crops were mainly potatoes and 'greens' - cabbages and brussel sprouts, plus some betroot, carrots and peas. Pleanty of rhubarb.
Food became scarce and ration books were issued to try and ensure fair distribution of what was available. However, some families always seemed to have plenty of food. It was said that they got their produce on the "black market". It seemed you could get most things if you had the right contacts and money. Most unfair! Some shopkeepers used to swap supplies with other shopkeepers.
Some youth activities e.g. Scouts closed down as leaders were called up to the armed forces. A lot of continuing social life centred round churches and chapels. The Mansfield Road Baptist Church (still in existence) in Nottingham organised a Sunday School in some local schoolrooms on the Bestwood Housing Estate. Going to Sunday School on Sunday afternoons was a regular activity. You were given bible 'text cards' (with coloured illustration) to take home to show to your parents.
Sunday School outings to Codnor Park or Matlock in Derbyshire were eagerly looked forward to. I believe you took your own 'eats' but the Sunday School provided the drinks and some sweets. The coach ride and picnic teas were enjoyed immensely.
As mentioned, food was scarce and news soon got around when the local cake shop was expecting a delivery of currant loaves. A queue formed outside the shop. Only one loaf per customer, but if you were lucky to get one before the supply ran out, you had something to brighten up your Sunday tea.
The local newspaper, the Nottingham Evening Post, was full of war stories and pictures - many were depressing, charting the progress of the war and especially the lists of local soldiers, sailors and airmen who had been killed or seriously injured in the fighting.
I remember children's birthday parties - the occasions were nearly always celebrated. Held in neighbour's houses you felt rejected if you didn't get an invitation to the son or daughter's birthday party. Food consisted of plates of sandwiches. You soon learned how to smell the 'fishy' ones, which usually got left. However, potted meat was acceptable. Various home made cakes, iced buns, jam tarts etc. were available. One almost invariably finished up with jelly and custard, or if you were lucky stewed apple and/or rhubarb with custard.
After the 'eats' were games - Pass the parcel, Blind man's Buff, Guessing games, etc. We went home happy and well fed, but very tired with all the excitment.
During the war years I passed the examination to attend the local Grammar School "High Pavement". You had to wear school uniform, but clothing coupons were needed. Boys had to wear a school cap with the badge tnereon and a school badge stitched on the top pocket of your jacket. Other items of uniform were optional. Most of the teachers were female as many male teachers has been called up. I remember a Miss Ungar - the boys made up rude ditties about her and a Miss Crewte, who became known as 'Miss Cute'. At that time, boys and girls still went to separate schools.
I remember 'school dinners'. Not a great deal of variety, but wholesome and adequate. A groan went up when rice pudding - thick and solid was on the menu.
The air raids were frightening. The Air Raid Wardens came round, banging on your door at night if the black-out curtains showed any light outside. The air raid warning siren made a frightening sound and we were rushed down-stairs and into the Anderson Shelter in the back garden. I can still remember the damp, earthy smell and the fear we felt. The dull thud of exploding bombs in the distance. I can only recall one house being hit by a bomb on our housing estate, Bestwood Council Housing Estate. It was said the Germans were after the Raleigh Industries factories (famous for their manufacture of cycles) and other engineering factories making things for the war effort.
We really hated the Germans and later the Japanese. The stories of the Jap's barbaric actions and atrocities committed in the east against troops and local populations were really horrifying. When the Japanese surrendered unconditionally after the Americans dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the war was finally over. One British soldier who had been in Japanese hands came home to a house on the estate. He was emaciated and yellow skinned. He rarely went out of the house and only lived just over one year.
There was a great sense of relief when the war was over. Many people held street parties to celebrate the event.

'This story was submitted to the People's War site by Sara-Jane Higginbottom of the Leicester CSV Action Desk on behalf of William Padley and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understand's the site's terms and conditions.'

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