大象传媒

This contribution to WW2 People鈥檚 War was received by the Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk. The story has been written and submitted to the website by Rosalie Davis Gibb (Volunteer Story Gatherer) with the full permission and on behalf of Daphne Bird.

We were first made aware of what to expect by having to make curtains from 鈥榖lack-out鈥� material and criss-crossing tape across the windows to help prevent flying broken glass. A small glint of light would have the Air Raid Warden shouting 鈥淧ut that light out鈥�!!

The often 鈥榗hoice鈥� language and unfamiliar behaviour of the London evacuees was a little strange, as were the accents of the Irish workmen building airfields and the thousands from the USAF who manned the bombers etc. The frequent bombing missions often ended with a plane crashing in the surrounding fields.

We always had friends and families from London living with us, who would return home when there was a lull in the bombing. Unfortunately, one of my father鈥檚 cousins was blown to pieces in one London attack.

Rationing came as a blow with everything in short supply, but being in the country a rabbit or chicken would come our way. My mother stored up precious ingredients to make some sort of Christmas pudding. When it was my turn to stir and make a wish I dropped and broke the basin, ruining the contents. I was devastated for days!

Living at the village Post Office, we received telegrams by telephone, copied and delivered them. My bicycle was used for this purpose. It was not always good news that was delivered. Several young men from the village were killed or went missing. My brother was reported gravely ill in Greece. I was going to fly to Greece to visit him, but my family thought I shouldn鈥檛, much to my disappointment.

Every evening we listened to the wireless for news and the possible invasion. I expect all parents were more than anxious than was obvious.

My father couldn鈥檛 get tobacco for his pipe so I decided to grow some. Eventually, I was able to harvest and hang the large spinach-like leaves on a string to dry. Probably a poor substitute for the real thing!

Fuel became very short for our fires. Being the only able-bodied person in our household I would saw up everything and anything wooden that came our way. Bedroom windows frosted up on the inside and everything froze that particular winter. I remember having chilblains on feet and hands.

When my brother returned home on sick leave his Army clothes were blood-soaked and it was my task to clean his uniform. From this I contracted some rather nasty skin condition which took ages to clear.

The young men and women who served in the forces and survived the war returned to the village but quickly moved on to pastures new. Village life must have seemed empty and dull. Some married and were hardly ever seen again apart from visiting parents. Some men returned home who had not been heard of for 3 to 4 years, as they had been taken POWs. How things had changed for them, sometimes finding their girlfriends married as it was believed they had perished either at sea on or land.

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