大象传媒

Some nights before Christmas 1940, there was massive bombing in Manchester. My Dad was in the Army and my Mam was due to have a baby and had gone into a difficult and prolonged labour, so we, my three sisters (Lilian 16, May 11 and Joyce 6)my two brothers (Jack 9 and David 1)and myself (Jean 13) were left very much to our own devices.
On the worst nights, we sheltered in the cellar,which wasn't a very pleasant place. Of course there was a blackout in force and no light could be shown from the windows. One night I remember creeping up from the cellar to get something from a dresser drawer when the room lit up. It wasn't an explosion,I'd set my hair on fire with the candle I was carrying! It wasn't amusing at the time, but later I realised it was to prove one of the 'lighter' moments!
Things were far worse for my Mam. As her labour progressed it was clear something was terribly wrong, yet she was completely bedbound and alone in the bedroom while we were all down in the cellar out of earshot.We'd never heard the term 'labour' before, all we knew was Mam was bad and getting worse so Jack (aged 9)was sent to fetch the Doctor. He ran out along Clayton Street and past the church with all the sirens going and hell breaking loose, to get to North Road and the Doctor. All along the way, people were grabbing at him and trying to force him into a shelter, but he finally made it.
The Doctor arrived and ordered an ambulance. He said it was urgent. Our Mam was taken away.
Later Lilian came home. It would have taken more than bombing to make her stay in nights as she loved to go dancing. The night had gone quieter and we didn't want to stay in the cellar anymore, so Lillian and I dragged a mattress and blanket from one of the beds into the living room. There, Joyce,May, Lilian, Jack, baby David and I all piled on and went to sleep.
We hadn't been asleep long when we were woken up by a thunderous knocking at the door and an ARP Warden came in. He told us a bomb had been dropped near by and we would all have to go and stay in the shelter on John Street.
We hadn't undressed properly anyway, so it didn't take long for us to be ready - all that is except for Lilian and Jack. The Warden wouldn't let us wait and I carried baby David who couldn't yet stand on his own. May, Joyce,David and I were then taken to the stone shelter.
There was no seating in this shelter. Some of the 'regulars' had had the foresight to bring their own, but all we could do was to lean against the damp wall. I remember David was heavy in my arms and I must have slumped a little against the wall only to wake with a start as I noticed my clothes were soaked in that waterlogged place. At some point there must have been a disturbance from near the entrance, I thought I heard Lilians's voice from the next compartment, but we weren't allowed to find her.
About 3am I believe, a decision was made that we were still in danger. A bomb had landed near Clayton Post Office but had not detonated, so it was arranged that we would walk to Carver Hall up Clayton Street. I didn't think I could make this, still carrying David and all, so we tried to duck out of the procession. We were soon rounded up and forced forward. I later discovered that at this point Lilian and Jack did 'escape', returned home and went to sleep.
At Carver Hall, there were lots of helpers giving out tea and biscuits. Things were still chaotic but at least we had seats and we stayed there until the morning.
When morning came the bombing had stopped and a lot of people were told they could go home. Not us though, our home was in the danger area. We asked if we could go to our Auntie Emily's, but although she'd been allowed to stay in her home, we were told she wasn't allowed to take anyone in. It was a standoff. We watched the exit until we were sure no one could see us and then made our escape to Auntie Emily's. There we met up with Lilian and Jack who, after a night's sleep, had emerged from our home and been sent on their way.
After jam butties and drinks, Auntie Emily told us to go to a rest station at Seymour Road School. One of us was to be allowed to return home to fetch us fresh clothing and unfortunately for us this was Lilian who returned with a great pile of odd socks and shoes for us and with a sixteen year old's priorities, a complete outfit for dancing for her! We heard from Auntie Emily that our new baby had been born dead.
At the school things were very chaotic but we soon cheered up when we were told we could go and shelter at the Carlton Cinema nearby. We thought we'd be watching films and feasting on choc ices but the reality was a blank screen and unbuttered muffins thrown from ice cream trays.
Over the shoulder of the man seated in front of me, I read the newspaper headlines "Manchester Blitzed!" Strange as this may seem, I found this exciting! I hadn't related the bombing to a blitz!
During the night, an announcement was made for mothers with babies to feed to make their way upstairs. Lilian and I argued whether this included us. David was a baby and needed to be fed, but neither of us were mothers! Thankfully we worked it out and David was fed!
I believe we had a cooked meal there. The next day we were told that more permanent arrangements had been made for all of us at Crossley Lads Club on Ashton old Road.
Special buses took us there and a big attempt had been made to prepare for us. Somebody from Clayton Post Office was there to give allowances or pensions to people who would have collected them at the now defunct Post Office. Once again, Lilian and I conferred. I suggested we could draw something from Dad's army pension, Lilian thought it would be asking for charity! As we needed to buy extra food, I asked for and received a partial payment. This was sufficient as we were given one meal a day and expected to buy anything else at local shops.
On our first night there, I got on a park bench that had been brought inside and wrapped a blanket round David and myself. The rest of the family - except Lilian - did similar, Lilian went out dancing!
I was wakened by Lilian when she returned and found I no longer had David with me. We went through that room searching frantically for him, whipping off blankets and looking under chairs until someone came to tell us that he had been put in the makeshift nursery for safety.
I remember these occasions but can't figure out how long we were actually there before there was an announcement to say that the bomb had been removed and it was safe to return home. We were also told that because it was Christmas, and there would be no food at home, we were welcome to stay if we'd rather, needless to say we went home.
We walked along Ashton Old Road and up Clayton Street. There was a corner shop with the door ajar. I don't think it was really open for business, but we all entered. When we were asked what we wanted, we asked for CHOCOLATE BISCUITS! At home we feasted on these and then got back under the blanket on the mattress.I remembered the only Christmas shopping Mam had been able to do before being taken so ill was to buy a xylophone for Joyce, so I found it for her and we all said "Merry Christmas" and went to sleep to the sound of Joyce playing the xylophone.

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