大象传媒

I was just 6 years old when war started. Mum, Dad and I lived on the top floor of the house. We had one bedroom, a lounge, a small kitchen and the bathroom was shared with the people who lived downstairs. On the Sunday, the 3rd September 1939, we went downstairs to hear Chamberlain鈥檚 broadcast that Britain was at war. As a 6 year old, it was all very bewildering.

In the streets, public shelters were set up. The issue of gas masks and identity cards, also restrictions such as Black Out and later rationing, was introduced.

Shortly after the outbreak of war, we moved from Hendon in north London, to Hither Green in southeast London. For the first time, I had my own little bedroom. At the back of our 1st floor flat, we had our own balcony. It was from this that we watched the London Docks on fire on Saturday, the 7th September 1940.

It was a week later that Mum and I, plus my friend Contie, who lived next door, and her mum and 3 month old baby sister, were all in the shelter. (We shared the Anderson shelter with four other flats.) When our homes were bombed, the blast caused glass and brickwork to enter the shelter. We were shaken and frightened, but not badly hurt. The Air Raid warden told us to stay put, as there were water and gas leaks. Being trapped in a confined space caused Contie and I to suffer claustrophobia in later years. When at last we were allowed out, the warden took us to the greengrocers over the road. All of us sat down and were given a drink. The flats were all cordoned off and we only had the things we stood up in. As it was late summer, we did not even have a coat. When our respective fathers returned from work, we all went to a Rest Centre (converted clinic) where we were given a meal or something to eat. We then went into a street public shelter for a few nights which was clod, dark and not very comfortable.

Dad was working during the day, so it was left to Mum and I to go to the assistance office in Rushey Green, Catford, for coupons, vouchers, ration books and money. Until we had some money, we had our main meal (paid for with vouchers) at the Rest Centre in Sangley Road School, Catford. After spending many nights in different shelters and houses, Dad got us a flat at Lee. With the furniture that was salvaged from our bombed home, we moved into Woodstock Court, Lee, southeast London, and lived here for many happy years. For a few weeks in September and October 1941, Mum and I left London to go to my grandmother鈥檚 at Aldershot where my mother gave birth to my brother, Dennis.

On the morning of the 20th January 1943, I did not go to school, as I had a hospital appointment for electrical treatment to my leg. At lunch time that day, Sandhurst Road School, Catford was hit by a 1100lb. It killed 38 children and 6 teachers; they have a collective grave in Hither Green Cemetery. (This school was featured on an ITV programme entitled, 鈥淏litz Spirit鈥�.)

My schooling at Sandhurst Road finished, but I did go back a few years age when I went to see the memorial window, and for a few seconds I was a child again.

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