大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by CSV/大象传媒 Radio Nottingham on behalf of Eric Middleton with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions"

September 11th 1940 Wednesday
Have just arrived at the office 9 am left home just after 7.30 am this morning. Its an awful scramble to get on the buses. Father came with me this morning going to see Aunt Eliza and Kit. Trains are not running and still without gas. S.S. 1155 am All Clear 12.10 pm Just had my cup of tea as S.S. 3.15 pm All Clear 4.40 pm S.S. 5 pm All clear 5.20 pm S.S: 8.40 pm All clear 5.45 am It was the heaviest A.A. of the war

September 12th 1940 Thursday
S.S. 4.35 pm All Clear 5.40 pm S:S. 9,15 pm All Clear 5.50 am ! Went back to bed and awoke at 7.45 am to the sound of the Siren! All Clear 8.35 am (Friday)

September 13th 1940 Friday
Very dull and cloudy Had quite a heavy shower of rain. S.S. 9.45 am All Clear 1.55 pm The longest day raid we've had. Gunfire was rather heavy at times. Clouds still very low. S.S. 3.55 pm All Clear 4.10 pm S.S. 9:5 pm All Clear 5.30 am !

September 14th 1940 Saturday
S.S. 9.20 am All Clear 9.40 am S.S. 11 am All Clear 11.15 am Trains running again so caught my usual one (only 2 hour late) Had lunch and S:S. 3.55 pm All Clear 5.10 pm Then at 6.20 pm All Clear 7.20 pm And again at 7.55 pm All Clear 3.45 am Had supper in the 'Anderson Arms' bread, cheese, tomatoes, groats_!!

September 15th 1940 Sunday
S.S. 11.50 am All Clear 12.55 pm. What a lark it is to cook the Sunday dinner. I took the joint over the road and cooked it on the kitchener in the 'Little Brown Hut' while Mother cooked peas (Lovely ones - Father's second crop) and potatoes on the open fire. S.S. 2.15 pm All Clear 3.10 pm The joint took rather a long time We eventually sat down to lunch about 3.45 pm!! Still it was jolly good and we all thoroughly enjoyed it, having waited so long we were ravenous. I had a glorious bath in the afternoon The water was boiling hot so I just revelled in it Thank goodness the siren didn't go!! S.S. 7.20 pm All Clear 7.50 pm I made some groats and we all had that. I went over the road to pick some roses for Mother, came back with an armful of roses and a basin of dripping!! Fred was over there so had a chat to him and the S.S. 8.10 pm All Clear 5.30 am Terrific Gun Fire - plenty of bombs We brought down 187 Nazis - wonderful !

September 16th 1940 Monday
Very cold and wet to-day S.S. 9.55 am All Clear 10.30 am S.S.10.50 am All Clear 11.35 am S.S. 12.5 pm All Clear 12.50 pm We shall get a lot of work done at this rate. Still pouring with rain. Just arrived back from lunch S.S. 2.5 pm and the All Clear 6. pm !!! We are around '102' this week. We were very comfortable in the Shelter and S.S. again 8.15 pm All clear 2.45 am S.S. 3.50 am All Clear 5.45 am Had quite a lot of sleep tho' the heaviest gunfire yet! That鈥檚 the stuff to give 'em.

September 17th 1940 Tuesday
S.S. 8.5 am All Clear 8.50 am Just arrived at the office in time for the Siren again 9.5 am All Clear 10 am Fine rain and clouds very low; rather a gale blowing too. Had our breakfast in the Shelter; what a picnic. Mrs R very much upset, she can't put her mind at rest and try to get some sleep only dozing now and again. I wonder how many times we shall go down to the Shelter to-day? S.S. 2.55 pm and All Clear 4.25 pm Am longing for a cup of tea I can hear the tea cups rattling that鈥檚 a good sign. S.S. 6.30 pm All Clear 7 pm S.S. 8.10 pm All Clear 6 am! Had a very good night slept nearly all the time.

September 18th 1940 Wednesday
S.S. 7.15 am All Clear 7.30 am had just finished breakfast when S.S. 8.15 am All Clear 8.45 am Weather not so wintry to-day although there is a slight breeze. S.S. 9.35 am All Clear 10.20 am S.S. 11.30 am All Clear 11.40 am S.S. 12.40 pm All Clear 2.20 pm I was so hungry went home to lunch at 1.40 pm couldn't wait any longer S.S. 5.5 pm All Clear 5.45 pm S.S. 7.58 pm All Clear 5.15 am Had a jolly good night's sleep didn't hear the All Clear

September 19th 1940 Thursday
S.S. 8.50 am All Clear 9.5 am Very cloudy again to-day quite a heavy breeze blowing too. S.S. 8 pm A11 Clear 5.45 am Terrific gunfire - We had 14 incendiary bombs in the yard!! What a blessing we had some men on duty

September 20th 1940 Friday
S.S. 11,10 am All Clear 12 am Very stormy looking weather. Heard a few guns during the day. S.S. 7.50 pm All clear 11.55 pm! We stayed in the Shelter and naturally the S.S. at 12.50 am All Clear 5.30 am We didn't hear the All Clear tho' awoke at 6.30 am!

September 215t 1940 Saturday
S.S. 11.5 am All Clear 11.20 am Very cold and grey to-day; just like winter.
When I arrived home Mother seriously ill in bed. Was taken to Old church Hospital October 2nd with pneumonia and complications. She has made a wonderful recovery after having the new treatment '699'(I think). they sent her home 10th November 1940. The Specialist and Drs say she has made a marvellous recovery at her age (71). Dr Wyers said if she hadn't gone away she wouldn't have been with us here now. I never thought she would come out.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.