大象传媒

I lived in East Ham for 77 years, which is situated near the Royal Albert and Victoria Docks. My husband worked Becton Gas Works which was also very near. We were married in 1937. The war started in 1939 and we lived not far from my Grandma and Uncle Stan. When my husband was called up for the Army in 1940 I was on my own so I went to live with my Gran and Uncle. My Gran died August 1940. Children were being evacuated and everyone had gas masks so by September 1940 we were prepared for the enemy. We had to buy blackout curtains as no lights were to be seen. There were no street lights. The ARP patrolled the streets. Barrage balloons were in the air. Lorries drove around the streets with guns on. Our house had a railing round the front and this was taken, with the gate, for ammunitions. Most people had air raid shelters, but we didn't so when it got very bad we went in next door's shelter. From 1940 the Incendiary bombs came over , it was a terrible sight , setting hundreds of houses and shops alight. The Siren sounded to warn us and then when the All Clear sounded we all helped each other and tried to clear up.
In 1941 the Land Mines came. By April it was very bad, the guns made a terrific noise round the streets, leaving the streets paved with shrapnel. Very sadly one landmine landed on the house of Uncle Stan's best friend, just two streets away from us. It killed his mum and dad, two sisters and two brothers. Uncle and I went to the funeral at Barking Cemetary 20 April 1941.
Things were getting very bad. We had no windows and roofs were off the houses. They boarded your windows up, it was a waste of time putting glass in. It was dreadful seeing the destruction. We were limited and rationed with food.
1942 was lot quieter. In July I gave birth to our daughter and I had to go to Loughton as it was a quieter area. The council did put windows in my bedroom as I had a new baby. But we had no windows in the others rooms for 6 years. People were very helpful to each other and we would help out with sugar or anything if we had it ourselves,
Later on the Doodle Bugs were sent over from Germany. You could hear them coming and felt safe while the engines were going. But it was very frightening when it stopped.
The most frightening were the V2 rockets becasue you didn't hear a thing until they landed. The damage they did was terrific.
The memories still stay with me. When I hear the siren on television , it makes me go cold. I will never forget the scenes I saw.
After the war finished the council redecorated our homes. They distempered the walls and stippled them which was a new thing.

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