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On Friday, September 1st, 1939 Poland was invaded by Germany, and all school children were sent home, I was eleven years old. On Sunday September 3rd war was declared with Germany. Air-raid shelters were built on any waste land, to be used by the public if out in the street going about their daily routine; also big water tanks in case of fires. Shelters were supplied to homes, a choice of reinforced brick built at ground level in gardens, a Morrison steel shelter which was placed under a table or elsewhere indoors, or an Anderson in the garden, which was about three feet below ground level, and three feet above, dug into earth, as far away from the house as possible. This was made of galvanised shaped sheets.

My parents decided on an Anderson, which I always felt was safe as we could run no further. It was very cosy, we had the car seats to lie on and cuddled up in warm clothing — fur coats, rugs, woolly hats, gloves and hot water bottles. We would retire to bed, and before long the sirens would warn of an air raid, so we would get up and run down the garden taking prepared food and drink, also personal items, with us. This became a nightly event so my parents decided we should go straight to the shelter and maybe prevent our having to run to safety during the night. However, I do remember one night when all was quiet, so we went to the house; and before long the bombers returned from the North of England and started bombing us so we all laid flat in the hall way, and luckily for us the bomb dropped in a road nearby.

Our beds were brought downstairs prior to this as it was presumed to be safer, unless the house received a direct hit, therefore the settee, armchairs etc were upstairs, where for one occasion we held a family party — quite fun, and no raid, luckily.

Schools had shelters built under playgrounds, and on hearing the sirens, the drill was to run to the entrance and chase down about thirty steps, to sit on wooden forms, and we spent the time knitting or singing to drown the noise of planes, gunfire and bombs. It was surprising we learnt anything! The toilet consisted of a tin bucket in the corner, behind a curtain of sacking material.

We always had to carry our gas mask.. This was made of rubber and fitted over the face and head with a breathing filter, and was packed in a little square cardboard box. Thankfully we only wore them for exercise. There were air raid wardens who had rattles to warn us if gas was used. Identity bracelets were also worn with name and address and identity number stamped on, and everyone had an identity card, too.

Ration books were issued for food, that is, a few ounces of cheese, butter, margarine, lard, bacon, tea, biscuits, dried egg powder and milk, and B.U (Bread Unit). coupons for bread. No extra coupons for household items such as tea towels, curtains etc, and only a few for personal clothing. Soap was rationed, and meat and cooked meat difficult to obtain.

Stirrup pumps were used by Firewatchers, who were made up of our Dads in the roads. I remember a book had to be signed to ensure they were on duty. This was a nightly occurrence and it was kept at our house, it being organised by Dad. These pumps were used in case of Incendiary bombs falling, which would cause a fire. They were little pumps used with a bucket of water.

My Dad once jumped through a window to put out a fire in a hat shop, put his foot through hat boxes, and was struggling to extinguish a fire with hat brims round his ankles, so there were some funny moments, although the owner was very annoyed; but no doubt a severe fire would have been worse!

There were also barrage balloons (which looked somewhat like an elephant in the sky, grey in colour and attached to the ground), the purpose being to stop enemy aircraft. Searchlights were also used to spot planes and so enable gunners to shoot at the enemies and send them out over the sea, and hopefully destroy them.

There was a very big gun on Purdown which was named ‘Purdown Percy’. Many children were evacuated from Bristol as the Aeroplane Company was a big target. When BAC Filton was bombed in daylight I can remember casualties being ferried in private cars to hospital.

There were no street lights, and car headlights had to use what was called ‘Top Hats’. These were shaped as a hat with a few slits to enable a little light for travelling.

My uncle who lived in Ashton suggested our family moved there as he was nervous of us being near Filton. However, we stayed in Horfield and as it happened we were O.K. One day he was standing in the doorway of his shop when a bomb dropped, and his friend, who was stood next to him, was unfortunately killed by the blast.

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