大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Stoke-on-Trent Libraries on behalf of Dorothy Wallbanks and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Dad was a miner so didn't have to go to war. One day he came home with a small tin from America. Inside was bacon, dried eggs, spam, biscuits and chocolate. The bacon was in a tin like a baked beans tin it was. Bread during the war was grey.

I can still remember my Co-op number - 23294. My identity number was ONNR1087. I remember having to take my gas mask to school, well everywhere. My gas mask had little ears on it. We looked like Mickey Mouse! My baby brother Ronald used to be in his special cradle - kind of dome shaped.

I lived in Longton at this time. I remember a flare going up one night - I'd be about 5. We thought they were after Meir aerodrome or the fuel dump around Meir Hay. My brother and I were on our own. Mother had gone to market; she'd go to the market on a Saturday night as fresh foods would be reduced.

I used to dream about grapes. I'd never tasted them but I saw them in films and fancied some!

Dad had an allotment. He'd grow all sorts of vegetables - potatoes, carrots. He even had a strawberry bed. We made all our own preserves like jam, pickled cabbage. People were very resourceful. We were all well fed and healthy.
Dorothy Wallbanks---Longton,Stoke-on-Trent

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