- Contributed by听
- cornwallcsv
- People in story:听
- Muriel Smith, Alice Priestley, Brother Jack, and Sister in Law Gwen
- Location of story:听
- London 1939-1943
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A5148425
- Contributed on:听
- 17 August 2005
This story has been added to The People鈥檚 War Website by CSV Volunteer Olivia Davey on behalf of the author Muriel Smith who understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.
Auntie Alice died last year aged 97 and left her diaries of wartime in London, and difficulties of everyday life in Nottinghill.The diaries told of caustic comments regarding leaders of other countries who 'gave in'.
She said how difficult it was trying to sleep during air raids, in and out of the shelters. She was also worried about her cat. Food was scarce.
Her brother was a fireman and was out on most nights. Her sister in law kept having to move jobs because of the factories being bombed.
She mentioned Hitler's birthday . She said 鈥淗ope it鈥檚 his last鈥.
She also mentioned how the skyline was red with flames.
She Prayed for the army, air force etc. She
often broke off her narrative to say 鈥 Thank you dear Lord,鈥 and 鈥 Help us dear Lord.鈥
Alice had frequent blackouts & was convinced she would be well when the war was over. Not so, as they were later diagnosed as epilepsy. She was sad at death of Chamberlain 鈥 鈥淒on鈥檛 agree with his politics but a very nice man.鈥
She had worked as a cleaner in some kind of establishment and referred to all the residents by number. Many of them did not survive the war.
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