大象传媒

When I was about four, a bomb was dropped on the bungalow next door. It was at night and Mum and Dad had rushed me into the pantry. Later when we came out our windows were blown in and the bungalow next door was flattened. The only damage to me was the fly paper from the pantry was stuck to my head! The bungalow site became very derelict and we children played there. When I was six, in my first year at school, I developed para-typhoid. We had three American soldiers billeted on us but after the American doctors came to see me in hopsital the soldiers had to go back to camp because they were all at risk from my illness. I spent six weeks in isolation at Hayley Green Hospital.
The American soldiers billetted at our house were very nice and polite - John, Olin (a Texan) and Hugh (from Detroit). Olin gave my mum half-a-crown for pressing his trousers.
When thery had to leave they had presents sent to us from America. My sister, who was only a baby, had a wooden lamb on wheels. I had a giant lollipop. Hugh's mother wrote to my mother and thanked her for making her son so welcome in our home.

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