大象传媒

THIS ENTRY WAS BY A CSV VOLUNTEER IN BRISTOL.I WAS 12 YEARS OLD IN SEPTEMBER 1939. WHEN THE SECOND WORLD WAR WAS DECLARED, I WAS EVACUATED TO GORING HEATH, HOW WE GOT THERE I DONT KNOW, MY MIND HAS BLOCKED THAT OUT. I HAD NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM HOME, I LEFT THREE BROTHERS AND TWO SISTERS ALL OLDER. I WAS BILLETED IN A 'CHAPPELS' HOUSEHOLD, WITH ONE OTHER GIRL AND HER BROTHER. THE LADY A MRS MOCKERIDGE HAD A GROWN UP DAUGHTER, SHE WAS QUITE STRICT IN WAYS, BUT LOOKED AFTER US WELL.WE HAD VERY FEW CLOTHES ABOUT ONE OF EVERYTHING AND A GASMASK.
AS CHILDREN FROM LONDON IT WAS QUITE DIFFICULT TO ADJUST TO LIFE IN THE COUNTRY, TO WALK TO SCHOOL WAS ABOUT 1 AND A HALF MILES, AND WE WERE IN A VILLAGE SCHOOL WITH LOCAL CHILDREN AND TEACHERS WHO CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT SO THAT THE YOUNGER ONES COULD DO OTHER WAR JOBS MORE IMPORTANT.
ON THE WHOLE WE SOON MIXED IN WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE. I WAS THERE FOR TWO YEARS, BUT WHEN I WAS 14 YRS I LEFT SCHOOL AND WENT BACK HOME TO NORTH LONDON, IT WAS ALL SO DIFFERENT, MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS WERE EITHER IN THE FORCES AND MARRIED. I WENT OUT TO WORK DIFFERENT PLACES, SOMETIMES THE SIREN WOULD GO DAY AND NIGHT. WE WERE VERY LUCKY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH MY FAMILY LIVED IN NORTH LONDON, WE WERE JUST AWAY FROM MOST OF THE BOMBING.WHEN I WENT TO WORK IN THE MORNING I NEVER KNEW IF OUR FLATS WOULD BE STANDING WHEN I CAME HOME. SURPRISINGLY YOU SOON GOT USED TO GOING AROUND LONDON IN THE BLACKOUT, AND LIFE CARRIED ON JUST THE SAME.
WHEN V.E DAY WAS DECLARED, I DANCED IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE, A GREAT EVENING AGE 18.

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