大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Somerset Libraries on behalf of Mrs JG Russell and has been added to the site with his/her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I remember the day all the children attending the Infant School at Compton Dundon had a day off because 2 bombs dropped in the village - blocking both ways to reach the school. We just enjoyed the day off.

We were used to the sight of the Barrage Balloons over Somerton Wireless Station, which is still there today.

I remember personnel from RNAS Yeovilton calling regularly for petrol on their way between Yeovilton and Burnham and Weston. My father owed the garage and I served petrol from the age of 11. It was 1/11d per gallon.

I treasured a catapult given to me by a group of about 7 commandos who dossed down overnight in our spare room and were fed breakfast before departing for their base.

We had a steady stream of evacuees billtted on us - generally mother and 1 or 2 children while father was working. Most did did not stay long as it was too quiet for most of them who came from the East End of London. One family from Leyton did keep in touch with my parents for some years after the war.

My father was in the Home Guard and I can remember them making "Molatov" cocktails - I think they used carbide in glass bottles which exploded when thrown.

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