大象传媒

This story has been submitted by Alison Tebbutt, Derby CSV Action Desk. The author has given her permission and fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

3rd September 1939. The declaration of War came via the radio. My mother burst into tears and my father looked sad. They had both lived through the First World War. I was eleven years old and about to start at a new school. On the appointed day, school duly opened, with windows criss-crossed with brown tape to prevent flying glass in an air raid. Each day we took packed lunches and finished classes at 3pm so that in the winter we would be home before dark. We carried our gas masks everywhere. The basements became air raid shelters and we practised marching down in orderly fashion with the teachers. As time went on we became aware of shortages. Paper was in short supply, pens and pencils, also books became a luxury. We had food rationing and clothes on coupons, but my mother managed extremely well. My father joined the Home Guard and grew vegetables on the allotment. However, no-one starved and nothing was wasted (unlike today.) Although we were well aware of the progress of the War (and the set-backs) from the 大象传媒 news, school life was surprisingly normal. There were standards to be kept, good marks to be achieved and homework to be done. I enjoyed my school days, thanks to the dedicated (but strict) teachers and the loving support of my dear parents.

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