大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of May Barlow and has been added to the site with her permission. She fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was only a child when the war broke out, and believe it or not - I actually wanted the war to start. Being a romantic, I thought there would be hand to hand fighting in the streets and with swords - very much like Errol Flynn who was our hero in those days. Very soon I was disillusioned when the bombs started to fall on Manchester Royal Infirmary and surrounding areas near where I lived. I remember going to see Pauldens Department Store which had received a direct hit and saw it burning furiously, as with many other buildings. It was a very sad sight.

Food was rationed but because we were already a poor family it didn't seem to bother us too much as we were used to living rather frugally anyway. Even to this day my husband and I cannot bear to waste food when we remember the shortages in the war.

Of course we did have some light entertainment, but we had to walk everywhere, and it was mostly to the cinemas which were about 9 old pence in those days. I remember at fifteen with my first boyfriend going to the cinema and how we tried to make ourselves look older to impress. I borrowed a hat with a very tall feather in the back, I guess I wasn't very popular with the people in the row behind. During the bad winter in very deep snow I walked to Burnage where my boyfriend lived then and from there we walked all the way to Manchester - this was our bit of courting - there was nowhere else to go. I always remember my very red chapped legs, as I only had on little ankle socks.

We were all very poor, but there was a good spirit of comradeship during the war days, nd I am sure the diet and exercise were more healthy for us and the lifestyle and lack of money gave us a better sense of values than the youngsters today.

I remember the wardens coming round to check the blackout curtains and woe betide anyone who dared to show a merest chink of light. Also being issued with the gas masks - and having only dried eggs to eat, no fresh eggs in those days. Tinned fruit was a luxury and I only ever remember having it at Christmas.

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