大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Lin Freeman of Radio Derby CSV on behalf of Mrs Frances Bratby M.B.E and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I can just remember when War was declared on 3rd September 1939. I was on holiday at my Aunty Nellie鈥檚 in Tideswell, nr Buxton. You did not go far for your holidays in those days. My Aunty said trains had stopped running, so that meant I could have a bit longer holiday. My Mother and Father had different ideas, they got a person who had a car to fetch me and get me back home to Belper.

Quite soon after this, we were all given gas masks, and had to take them to school and everywhere we went.

All the houses had to have black curtains or boards to shut out the light, and all the gas lamps on the street or road had to be out. Also when the air raid siren went, Mum, Dad, my sister and I always went under the stairs until we got the all clear. Later on a man next door but one had an air raid shelter built and we went in that.

We also had ration books for the food, but I can鈥檛 remember how much we were allowed. I believe we only got one egg per week, and my mother used to make a cake with egg powder, also I was only allowed very small sugar in my tea, or none.

My Father was also sent a land girl to help with work on the farm, but I know that they didn鈥檛 get on very well, as she came from a town, and knew nothing about farm work.

This is just a few things I can remember about the 2nd World war.

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