大象传媒

I was a child during the War, living in East London with my parents, George and Marie Wittamore.I can't be sure at what age i started school, but i must have been about 5 years old. I didn't miss any schooling, apart from when i was ill. One morning on the way to school i was stopped by a policeman, who told me to go home right away. When i asked why, he said a big land mine had fallen the previous night near the school and it was damaged. I found out afterwards that several houses had been destroyed and alot of people had been killed, including some children that i knew.(No counselling in those day!)
At school we did our lessons in the shelters, sitting on our little cushions, as all the seating was concrete. We often stood at the door of the shelter, looking at the "Doodlebugs"(V.1) going overhead until the noise stopped, then quickly shut the door and covered our faces till the explosion came. All the kids used to collect shrapnel on the way to school after an air raid.
I had a "Micky Mouse" gas mask but only wore it a couple of times. We had to carry it everywhere in its small brown box. One day i went to school without it, mum had forgotten it. I was sent home immediately to get it and i was really told off. I was only about 6 at the time.

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