大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Martin Hough from WM CSV Actiondesk on behalf of Rosslyn Wilkins and has been added to the site with her permission Rosslyn Wilkins fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

I was 9, my Sister鈥檚 Jean 11 and June 7, when war broke out. We lived with our Mother and Father in a house belonging to Hollymoor Hospital, where my Father was a male nurse and my Mother a cook. My Mother and Nan had taken us to Blackpool and we had to come home in the middle of the week because war was imminent. We were so excited because the blackout had started and the curtains in the train carriage were drawn. The train was jam packed with people making their way home.

Listening to the announcement on the wireless was frightening, we all had to be quiet while the adults listened. Not understanding we thought the Germans would be in England almost immediately. We had a shelter in the garden because we were very near to the Austin works and we watched the fires and searchlights. It was frightening hearing the German planes which were very recognizable by their distinct drone.

School was only part-time which we quite enjoyed, if an air raid took place we didn鈥檛 go to school at all. My sister, Jean was very reluctant to get out of bed to go to the shelter, but June and I were quite happy to go.

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