大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Louise Angell of the CSV Action desk at 大象传媒 Radio Derby on behalf of Margaret Birkinshaw. The author understands the sites terms and conditions.

in 1939 I was 6 years old but I recall the wireless announcement that our country was at war with Germany, not realising the full horror of it all, but I knew the news was disturbing and worrying.
I guess the main things I remember were the blackout, no signs and no street lights. Torches had to be shone on the ground. There was rationing - trying to make the allowance spread out evenly in the family. tinned foods were obtained by points. mam used to give some of our points to our aunt as we could not afford to pay for the tinned product. Our clothing coupons were put to good use and any we could spare we gave to the lady who put on a panto every year. I and many others from the village took part and all did their best to contribute. she was a fantastic lady who made the costumes, painted the scenery and wrote the scripts. A local lady played the piano and a very talented young man taught us to tapdance. I thoroughly enjoyed these times with them.
Rationing made it difficult in the cookery and sewing lessons at school. Our teacher was very good and did the best she could for us. Fruit for Christmas Cakes was sparse so gravy browning was added to darken them. Icing sugar was also short so Dolly Blue was added to give a better white, just as in the laundry to whiten the sheets.
Living in the Peak District, we were not too close to the bombing but trips to Manchester to visit relatives were upsetting as bombed out houses and shops lined the route and I used to cry for the people who lived there.
One frightening night we could hear the planes going over and a terrible noise woke me up. I really thought it had taken the slates off the roof. I got up to look out and it suddenly went quiet. Then BANG, FLASH - it was one of the flying bombs way off in the fields.
We had no electricity in our home so the accumaltor ran the wireless. I used to take it to the shop to be charged and bring home the full one. We couldn't miss Dick Barton, Just William, Rays a Laugh, Much Binding in the Marsh, The Glums etc. I recall dad, who claimed not to be interested, chuckling behind his newspaper at Just William.
Despite the horrors of war, we were fortunate that my four brothers in the services all came home despite the fact that one was torpedoed, one waded out up to his neck at Dunkirk and a brother in law was a POW in Germany.

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