大象传媒

Children鈥檚 Party

As a child, during the 1960' and 70's, I would spend a few weeks every summer staying with my maternal grandparents in Kingston.

I was a bit obsessed with WW2, possibly because there were still bombsites and air-raid shelters around and people, such as my father would often talk about it.

My grandparents hardly ever spoke of the war; they had lived through WW1 too, my grandfather serving in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, prior to being discharged as he had a reserved occupation.

When I was about eleven I remember asking my grandmother about the war and what she remembered. Her response was such that I never asked her again.

She stated that the war, and all wars were terrible, and that she hoped that it would never happen again. She then went on to tell her lasting memory of WW2.

During the war people were asked not to have parties, in case the event suffered a direct hit. Most households followed the advice, but as the war went on many wanted life to be as normal as possible. So some people started having birthday parties and other celebrations in a bid to cope with the many hardships.

The following morning after an air raid, in which Kingston was hit, my grandmother walked to the shops. She noticed pieces of coloured fabric hanging in the trees. As she got closer she realised what they were, tatters of party frocks.

she discovered later on that a children鈥檚 party had suffered a direct hit.

This story is a sober reminded about the real victims of war. My grandmother died in the 1980's and I would like to dedicate this story in her memory.

Ray Harrington-Vail
Grandson of May Drake.

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