大象传媒

THE DAY WAR BROKE OUT

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by John Hughes from Three Counties Action on behalf of Lillian Ricketts (nee Stamp) and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I remember Robb Wilton, from the music halls, did a monologue called this. My own memory is that I was helping my brother Jim, by pushing a handcart and delivering milk for him while he worked back at his dairy in Lebanon Street, Walworth.

On the round, I passed an Italian ice cream shop, one of many in those days. I鈥檇 already heard the National Anthem through an open window and wondered why it was being played, but when I reached the ice cream parlour, I could hear crying and wailing. It turned out that Neville Chamberlain had just made his announcement that war had been declared. The Italians had realised that this meant internment for them and the loss of their home and livelihood.

Just then, the air raid siren sounded. I didn鈥檛 have my gas mask with me, despite all the instructions we鈥檇 been given, so I abandoned the handcart and ran home. I remember the local street market in East Lane on Sundays, was mostly stalls selling hardware and tools, so the streets were full of running men. It was a false alarm.

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