´óÏó´«Ã½

I was 9 1/2 years old when war broke out and I had to be evacuated to my Aunt’s house in Derbyshire as Sheffield was likely to be bombed. The blitzes occurred Dec 1940, by then I was in North Wales due to my fathers work with Rowntrees. We were back in Sheffield Feb 1941, 4 air raids were the norm for 2 years. We had to carry gas masks all the time — in the city centre gas raids were practiced without warning. Hand rattles were sounded and then tear gas was released and on went the gas masks. Any-one who had forgotten their masks had red, swollen eyes and a cough.

As children we did not have many extras, like new toys or clothes. Bananas disappeared for 6 years and we had ½ orange twice a year at school. We managed fresh fruit that was locally grown and in season. Apples were sliced and dried, eggs were stored in zinc buckets full of water glass which was a preservative. Clothes were
cut down to make children’s outfits and knitted garments were unpicked and knitted again into smaller jumpers and hats and scarves for children. Clothing coupons were used for essential replacements like shoes and stockings and outer clothing. Once my grammar school uniform was bought there was none left for any other outfits. My mother had bought lots of dress lengths and woolen cloth to be made up when needed.

After air raids the children would go hunting for bombs and shell shrapnel and incendiary bomb pins — there was great rivalry especially among the boys to who had the best and biggest trophies.

We were never hungry, but the menu was at times boring. School dinners were 10p a week with one meatless day — so we got vegetable sausages, and cheese and onion pie. I’ve never eaten another prune since I left school! The custard was awful — powdered egg and dried milk was often used. Cakes made without eggs and fat were an occasional treat but didn’t keep very well. Restaurants and cafes were strictly controlled, a 2 course meal at an expensive place was rarely 27 ½ p. Wine was scarce as was beer and spirits and if we were invited to tea at a friends we took a small amount of tea, sugar and butter or margarine to eke out the meal. The spirit of the people helped a lot, we all were very generous and public spirited, helping people who had been bombed out or just making sure others were safe in the shelters.

I have written only a small aspect of the war but there is so much more to tell and so much more happening; Dunkirk, the casualties, the school friends who died, the houses the bombs damaged, but we survived and had to manage on rations for another 6 years, 12 whole years in total.

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