大象传媒

I was 15 years of age in 1939. I heard on the wireless Neville Chamberlain announce the declaration of war. Before long it was the blackout. Not a chink of light had to be seen from any window. Issued with tin hats, gas mask, ID cards. We all caught the bus to work. I worked in Greengate, Broughton, making and sewing anti-gas capes for the army personnel. One weekend the building was bombed. Another building (The Greengate and Irwell Factory) accommodated us on our war work. This time we were sewing and making Twill shorts for the men fighting in North Africa named the desert rats. We also made trousers for men in the navy. Shortage of food was experienced by all. It was awful. I was always hungry as a growing teenager. To no availability. I experienced the night of the Blitz in Manchester City with a girl friend. We had been to the Paramount Theatre. Manchester was ablaze, bombed and killed many people. Buildings razed to the ground. The only vehicles being fire engines and enormous hose pipes everywhere. We found our way home to Whit Lane, Pendleton whilst incendiary bombs rained around us. We never met anyone and Broad St was one continuous pavement of glass. Not one window remained. We passed one policeman at Pendleton Town Hall. We were only 16 and he didn鈥檛 even ask our names. We just walked past. I鈥檝e often wondered if he was a spy, dressed as a policeman or was it fancy dress he was wearing.

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