大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Julia Shuvalova for GMR Actiondesk on behalf of Mavis Binyon and has been added with her permission. The author is fully aware of the terms and conditions of the site.

I was almost 5 years old when the war started. I can remember Sunday, 3rd of September, it was a sunny day and my family and I were having a holiday in New Brighton. I could hear the grown-ups talking about a war.

As time went by, and the war continued, I remember having to carry a gas mask to school, and the sirens sounded we all had to go in the air raid shelter. If the siren went at night, I was woken up and I got into my siren suit and was taken to the nearest air raid shelter.

There were some evacuees from London came to live near me, and they went to the same school as myself. They stayed for about four years, and we got quite friendly. We kept in touch for a long time after they had gone back home.

There were some problems with food, etc. I remember dried eggs, and there were some very unusual recipes. Everything was rationed, and you only had a certain amount per person per week. I didn't remember having a banana for a long time. It was one of the first things I wanted when the war was over.

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