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Another memory of around that time was the sight of several barrage balloons located in the playing fields of Henry VIII Grammar School in Coventry. These were placed to try to defend the city from low flying dive bombers by forcing aircraft to fly higher than otherwise would have been the case.

There was an airfield some 8 miles away, towards Birmingham, in Honiley which was used by fighter aircraft defending the cities of Birmingham, Coventry and the surrounding area. In order to provide a visual guide to the airfield mobile beacons were strategically placed at certain remote locations around the area as an aid to night navigation and were manned by RAF personnel. I remember, one day, someone in RAF uniform knocking at the door and asking whether someone would be willing to prepare and cook an evening meal for those personnel. It was stated that ingredients would be provided and anything not consumed by the personnel could be used by the person carrying out the requested task. My mother, although she had a job as a waitress at a local hotel, agreed to do this. Her decision turned out to be a good one since for quite a while we were able to enjoy such rare treats as bacon, butter and other items which had become - and were to remain - in short supply for the duration of the war and some time thereafter. Rations meted out to serving personnel certainly seemed to be somewhat better fare than that which the civilian population, in general, was able to obtain!

I have a clear memory, on one occasions, of being asked by one of the ‘Beacon Boys’ by which name they became known, to help them retrieve a large screwdriver which had somehow been dropped down into the fuel tank of their beacon trailer. Because of my small hand and arm it was thought I would be able to dig down into the tank and fish it out. This, to their relief and gratitude, I was able to do.

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