大象传媒

On Saturday 7th September 1940 (Black Saturday as it became know) we were bombed out. The Blitz had begun, I was nine years old with my mother, Mary Stout father, Bert Stout and brother Terence. We lived in Redmans Road, Stepney and had a small grocery shop.

Around 6pm on Black Saturday the sirens went off. Hearing planes very close we went into the Anderson Shelter. Shortly after three bombs came down, one blasted right through the house the Shelter shook. Earth came in and the blast blew the door off, the shoup and house were ruined but we were all alive and stumbled out. My father, who had served in the First World War, had now lost everything in this the Second World War. My Father's sister Florrie Hitchcock took us in, she lived in Gold Street just round the corner. That night the bombers came back, all night long it went on. Around 3am there was a lull in the bombing and we went out to stretch our legs. Am amazing sight met our eyes, the sky was a dull red glow and there was smoke everywhere it was an eerie sight. The docks all around were on fire. I've never forgotten that first night.

After weeks of this we were finally evactuated to Perramporth in Cornwall, a very pretty little village. My mum said "it was like finding heaven after living in hell". Later on the peaceful village was shattered with the arrival of the American Forces. What an impact they made. A couple of them came to our school to give us a talk about America. i don't remember their names but they gave us some chewing gum and our teacher let us chew it in class that day only.

At Christmas they gave us children a wonderful party. We had organge squash, pineapple upside down cake and ice cream we had never seen the like boefore. Also every child received a large boxed gift, it was smashing, they were so good to us.

In January 1945 my brother Terence was called up to do his National Service and in the October of that year Mum, Dad and myself returned to war torn London to start our lives once again.

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