大象传媒

The air raid sirens were still sounding when we bustled out of the house on a cold winters evening.

Down the garden in pyjamas, coats and scarves and into the the shelter. Over the city and could see the glow from incendiary bombs and hear the bark of anti-aircraft guns. I held on to the dog and our gas masks, while my elder sister lowered my baby sister into the shelter to my mother. The dog and I kept our distance to avoid any blame if the baby was accidentally dropped.

When we were all inside mother lit the paraffin stove under a kettle. I shall never forget the unique musty smell of damp earth, paraffin fumes, the baby leaking half digested food and the periodical farts from the dog, who would be ejected to the outside of the shelter for a while.

Later we heard the sound of German bomber aircraft escaping northwards against the moon-lit railway. A bomb was jettisoned the other side of the line. Far too close for comfort.

We slept fitfully until the sound of the all clear sirens at dawn and then gingerly emerged to walk the frozen garden path to the house. Elder sister and I went to school, leaving baby sister and the dog to carry on sleeping. Mother was always busy. She was a strong and courageous woman, but she was nervous for our safety. However, after the first few raids my sister and I were relaxed about it all...all we really wanted was MORE SLEEP!
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Edited by: Alan Brigham - www.hullwebs.co.uk

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