大象传媒

During the first three years of the war I lived in Springwell Road, Bootle and went to Roberts Drive school. In 1940 I was eight years old and distinctly remember being told told at school and on the radio that 'walls have ears' and we should not speak to strangers. It must have registered in my subconcious because, prior to the '41 Blitz, I was given a chance to use this advice. I was playing out one day when a man on a bike stopped and came over to me. He wore a suit and he had a moustache.He asked me "Do you know the way to the Gasworks?" Alarm bells rang in my head.I thought that this was my chance to fool this spy!I just pointed in the direction of about north and said, "They are about ten miles away."Off he went.My bravery was used up and I beat a quick retreat to the safety of our backyard.He could have been Hitler or Himmler for all I knew.I didn't care as far as I was concerned I'd fooled a German spy!
He was a 'wall with ears.'I hope I did the right thing because I didn't have a clue where the Gasworks were!
I also remember (and will never forget) being at home and sleeping downstairs (because if anything happened we could make a quick exit to the local shelter.)I was on a sofa and my gran' was sitting at the table when there was a terrific bang and the lights went out. Whether a bomb had hit the house or landed close by I didn't know, Next I felt something on top of me and when I tried to sit up I couldn't move at all.I wondered what was over me.I also had no idea of time. I could not hear much sound and I felt boxed in.How long that lasted again I don't know. Eventually, I heard noises and people shouting "Is there anybody there?"
I shouted back and shortly after men pulled me out. Whatever hit us it had blown the door from the hall to the living room and off its hinges and dow which went length ways over the sofa.Then the ceiling and roof came down on top of the door.My gran' had been blown under the table and was saved just like I had been.I suppose I was too young to be afraid or realise what had happened.
My other memories of the war that linger are;
Black out curtains-Blue painted windows criss-crossed with strips of adhesive paper-going out the day after another raid,looking for shrapnel.People running to the communal shelters when the sirens sounded.We found bits of drain pipes and pretended they were bits off bombs and shells.
A small matter a long long time ago!
'This story was submitted to the People's War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside's People's War team on behalf of the author,Roy Connor,and has been added to the site with his permission.The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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