大象传媒

Milly Harris lived in Scotland during the war. When it broke out she was 21. She lived in Fourth Bridge by the Docklands with her husband, father-in-law and her son and daughter who were aged 2 and 1. Her mother and father lived nearby.
Milly's father was called up to serve in the war. She had no siblings but her three cousins also served. One of her cousins flew spitfire planes, the other was in the Lancaster Bombers; he was shot down by the Germans and held captive in a prisoner of war camp. Her third cousin was in the Navy. Milly was a housewife, and heard the start of the war being announced on the radio whilst preparing Sunday lunch.
Living on the home front, for Milly, was difficult but her and her family got by. When food was rationed, Milly's family made things go further. Throughout the war, they never had tea, coffee, sweets, chocolate or eggs. The usual rationing rate was 2oz of something e.g. 2oz of butter per adult, per week. Families living in the countryside were better off because they could grow things, and keep animals.
Milly had an Anderson Shelter in her garden, and recalls going into the shelter almost every night, which was very scary for her and her small children. She also hated blackouts and wearing gas masks. Milly said she was very scared of having to wear the gas mask, although there was never a gas attack, she also found it a hassle having to carry it round with her all the time. Milly's house was never damaged or bombed throughout the war. Families living thought WW2 that maybe had sons; husbands or fathers away fighting all had to pull together and make the most of things said Milly. Birthdays were still celebrated during the war, although there were no presents.
Milly's father was killed during the war. He was in Burma and was found in the water when a ship was blown up. Milly was in the hairdressers having a perm; and her mother came in to tell her about her Dad. However, old-fashioned perm machines mean that you cannot come off the machine until it is finished so Milly could not get away to be with her mother.
Milly had a terrifying experience during the war, when she was machine gunned by a German plane whilst she was just innocently walking along. Fortunately her and her two babies escaped unharmed. Lots of people Milly knew died during the war, many were very close friends. Milly recalls being very scared of the war, mainly of being killed and also of loosing the war. She also had awful memories of Dunkirk and The Battle of Britain. Milly's husband also helped on the D Day Landings, cleaning up e.t.c.
Milly remembers being very scared of the persecution of the Jews, because there was a worry that the Nazis would come and do the same to Britain.
Milly and her family and friends celebrated a lot when the war was over, and she was very relived when she heard Hitler was dead, but she does not have any hatred for the Germans.
Milly is now a grandma and lives in [removed by Moderator] nearby to her son. Her daughter now lives in Australia.

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