大象传媒

This story was sublitted to the the People's War site by Stoke-on-Trent Libraries on behalf of Peter and Rita Harper and has been added to the site with their permission. The authors fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

In 1940 there was an air raid. My brother and I went out to see what was going on. My dad was furious. He was born in 1886 and still tried to join up again in 1939 even though he'd served in the first world war.

We had a fairly 'comfortable' war in Yorkshire. My brother was a Bevin Boy. He'd been a shoe repairer but he was sent down the pit. He had tried to join the Navy but because he was repairing army boots they wouldn't let him.

My cousin was part of the liberation of Brussels. They were astoounded when they got there. Back home everything was concentrated on the war effort; in Brussels everyone was dressed in their finery.

We had lots of soldiers billeted in our village. The school was taken over as a British restaurant kitchen. Soldiers were taken in to our home - we even invited them to our weddings and kept in touch for years.

The army were at Slaithwaite - they took over an old woollen mill. They'd hold dances and everyone in the village would be invited. We also had American soldiers, coloured chaps, they'd come and sing at our school.

The sound of the air raid siren would terrify me. Even hearing it now, it chills me and I'm straight back in the cellar.
Peter & Rita Harper

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