大象传媒

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

September 3rd, 1940 - I was in church in Surrey with my parents and brother for the 11 o'clock service. After the processional hymn the vicar stood to start the service when the verger came running down the aisle. The vicar said, "War has been declared. Let us kneel to pray". We knelt and prayers were said. We stood, the vicar again starting the service. Again the verger came running in, and the vicar announced, "The air raid siren has sounded. Let us kneel to pray". A little later the verger came in to announce the 'all clear' had sounded, and the service finally began.

September 1940 - Because of the shape of the staircase there was a good sized cupboard under it. My parents had put stools and a low table and games in there. As my mother had nursing experience, she was in charge of the local ARP centre so when the air raid siren sounded, my brother (10 years old) and myself (15 years old) were put under the stairs, and my mother left for the ARP post. I don't know how long the raid lasted, but I remember playing Ludo and Draughts. I don't remember hearing a bomb dropping. One, I believe, the first to fall in the London area, but my mother rang to check we were alright, and said the bomb had fallen. The following day I had to cycle a long way round to school as South Range - my usual route - was closed to stop sightseers. A few weeks later people would see many such sights.

October 1940 - my brother and I were sent from Surrey to an uncle in Denshaw, near Oldham, because of the London blitz. I remember that terrible journey - I believe it took more than seven hours from London Euston to Manchester, London Road (now known as Piccadilly). We travelled in almost total darkness. Two ladies who seemed old to us but probably were no more than fifty, were very kind to us, especially when we arrived in Manchester.

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