大象传媒

I was six years old when the war started. I can remember the famous speech by the Prime Minister - not so much by the actual words but by the sad and worried expressions of the adults.

My sister, Alma who was eight years older than myself refused to be evacuated - so I did too! We spent the war years in South Norwood, I continued at school- often lessons were in the shelters. Food and clothes coupons are quite clear memories and the clever ways in which people coped with these shortages. We raised money for the Red Cross, Aid to China, Aid to russia and life went on, interupted sometimes when relatives had to be houses because they had been "bombed out".

When the Doodlebugs started I remember running out to stand on the lawn to watch them go over and then to rush for the shelter when the engines cut out.

We had a large Anderson shelter in our garden, which we shared with my Aunt and her family who lived next door. I can remember all the digging it entailed and the adults made the shelter a "home from home". We spent very many nights in there and we had to keep in regularly pumped out. On 20th October 1944 the war really reached us, at eight O'Clock in the evening we were bombed by a V2 rocket- no warning and very powerful.

My mother, father, sister and I were all in the large kitchen, I remember it was raining that night.

We were all buried of course- the house just collapsed around us. My father called out our names- no answer from my mother but my sister and I answered getting mouthfuls of dust, but he told us to keep shouting out so that the rescue team could find us - and they did - they were wonderful and came quickly but I was burried for five hours due to the weight of the rubble on me and was the last one out.

My mother was very badly injured, the rest of us- not too bad. Sadly my Aunt, Uncle and cousin next door were all killed.

Because I did not make a fuss during the rescue I was awarded a Certificate of Merit - For Courage - by the Girl Guides Association signed by Lady Baden Powell.

Because we had no home I was sent of to stay with a cousin in Swindon for the rest of the war with Germany. I returned in 1945 to a requisisioned home.

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