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This story was submitted to the People's War site by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Learning Centre on behalf of June Ayland with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

In 1940 I was 11, living in St Mark's Street in Kingsholm, Gloucester and a pupil at the Girls' High School in Denmark Road.

Local streets were encouraged to form community groups of firewatchers. My father was in the firewatchers and I decided to fundraise for his group. I made little felt flower posies and brooches and went round selling them from house to house — I raised enough for them to purchase a first aid box and the local newspaper, the Citizen, published a photograph of me with it.

I was 10 when war broke out and have quite vivid memories of wartime. I remember filling sandbags. We all did our bit and I remember them coming round and collecting all the railings and surplus saucepans and kitchen utensils to be melted down for munitions. I often wonder if they ever were.
Other 'war work' I remember was helping with air raid training rescues from the Docks warehouses.

My father worked at GAC (Gloster Aircraft Compoany) and was in the factory St John Ambulance at the time of the bombing there.

I remember walking up from Barton Street after the bombings in Napier Street and seeing the terrible damage.

We had to have evacuees from London to stay at our house. When the air raid siren went off we had to hide in the cupboard under the stairs and one of my evacuee cousins knocked herself our by banging her head on the gas meter and my Mum had to try to deal with a nasty case of concussion completely in the dark and with the bombers going over.

Later on we had a metal shelter that went in the dining room. It dominated the whole room. I suppose you had to have it.

My young uncle Ray lived with us before the war and he was called up to the Army. When he came home on leave he had to sleep in the shelter under the dining table because the evacuees had his bedroom.

I don’t remember much about VE Day - I was busy swotting for my School Certificate in 1945. One thing I do remember is that there was a big street party and Dad dressed up in a kilt.

June's article in The Citizen

"Schoolgirl's Gift To Watchers"

"At a committee meeting of the St Mark's Street Fire Watchers Miss June Kibby presented the chairman (Mr C S Jenkins) with a donation, sufficient to cover the cost of a first aid cabinet which had recently been purchased. The cabinet, which is very well-fitted, and contains 150 sterilized dressings, was on view.

"On behalf of the committee, Mr Jenkins expressed his sincerest thanks to June for her splendid effort, and pointed out that this was her war contribution and hoped that at some future time the Commitee might be able to offer a more tangible appreciation.

"June, who is 11, raised the money by making felt posies and selling them to her friends and relations.

"The chairman stated that he considered that the business of firewatching was so far progressing favourably. A considerable amount of equipment was available and the volunteers were performing their duties loyally.

"Mr Jenkins also expressed his thanks to Mr Hurcombe of the A.F.S. who had recently given an instructive talk and demonstration on how to deal with fire bombs."

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