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I remember this particular story from 1942 when I was about 11 years old, living in Mayfield Road in Herne Bay.

Back then we actually kept five rabbits and I had been told to feed them some leftovers donated to us by another family, mostly cabbage leaves, bread crusts and carrot peelings (though to this day I think that was a waste, the skin is the best part!). I had gone out of the front door, leaving it open, and round the side of the house to start feeding the rabbits in their hutch which we kept in the back garden. Just then I heard the sound of low flying planes coming over. I looked up and saw the German crosses on the first plane and made to run for the Morrison Shelter inside the house. However, instead of going through the open back door that was right next to me, I panicked and ended up running all the way round the side of the house again and into the front door! I took one step inside, planted my foot on the door mat and with all the speed I’d built up began to slide. My mother was a beast for polish back then, and I ended up sliding all the way through the house back into the kitchen at the rear, where I promptly stopped, fell over, and ended up sprawled in the back garden where I’d been just moments before! In my little trip through the house I’d managed to slide right by the shelter I was trying to get to!

Luckily I didn’t need to get to the Morrison shelter that day and my little ride through the house only left me a little sore and feeling just a bit silly!

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by James Barton and has been added to the website on behalf of Frank Ashley with his/her permission and they fully understand the site’s terms and conditions.

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