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My Mother, Jean died in April, but amongst her belongings and paperwork was a note to her Grandchildren about the war. It is faithfully trasncribed here
"What did you do in the War Nan ?

This is a precis of 1939 — 1945

At eleven am on Sunday September 3rd 1939 at

The St Leonards Arms — St Leonards Road Poplar were

Thomas William Mercer AQNP 75 — 1 father
Rebecca Lilian Julia Mercer 75 — 2 mother
Jean Patricia Mercer 75 - 3

Also at the address were cousins

Joseph John Mercer
Agnes Mercer In the RAF, posted to Canada, son John born in Canada

Other family members

Thomas Charles Mercer Grandparents at Markhouse Arms,
Walthamstow
Laura Mercer

Charles Frederick Mercer and
Grace Mercer In RAF corporal PTI stationed at St Johns Wood
Carole Mercer Born 1942 living at
Two Brewers, Standard Street, New Kent Road

Laura Thorp
Herbert Thorp At Eagle Public House, Victoria Park, London. Publican and Boiler maker
Joan and Margaret Thorp Eventually evacuated to Peterborough after a short evacuation to Brighton with Jean

Jean Patricia Mercer (myself)

I was evacuated to Peterborough from October 1939 — 1941, followed by Boarding school at Stonar House School (see www.stonar.wilts.sch.uk) Atworth, Melksham, Wiltshire until December 1943. Returned to London due to relaxation of bombing. Was at home for the mini blitz and V1and V2 bombs.
Father was working in Docks as a shipwright and worked on the assembly of Mulberry Harbour.
Several near misses of V1 and V2 's
Mother ran the public house, aided at various times by
Lydia Gilbert - sister in law . Bus conductress
Soloman(Charles) Gilbert - Brother Royal Navy Gunnery instructor

Visitors

Sarah Martin - sister Factory Worker
Albert martin - brother in law Lighterman at Docks

Relations

Frederick Gilbert - mothers brother
Lucy Gilbert sons Kenneth and Brian M.M served in North Africa and Italy
John Gilbert - mothers brother

Ivy Gilbert - sister in Law and 5 children
Harry, Joyce, Rosina, Sylvia and Teddy Fire Service and Red Cross. One of the 1st Red Cross into Belsen, but would never speak of it
Evacuated to North Devon
Julia Brooks - sister and daughters
Julia and Pat
Manageress of a Baker shop

Branch of the family

Frederick Gilbert and wife Isabelle - Grandfathers brother
Isabelle Eugenie (Dolly) - fathers cousin
And Harry Hellmers(husband)
Children Peter and Pat RAF and Publican of the White Horse, Poplar High St.
Thomas Mercer (dollys brother) Territorial Army - evacuated from Dunkirk
Dinah from Blandford, Dorset married Tommy in 1946, Jean(me) and Pat Hellmers were bridesmaids
Frederick Mercer (dollys brother) Killed in Singapore

People who passed through and were part of my life

Cis and George Huckle Peterborough housewife and Tram Driver
Barbara and Mary Johnson Friends at Peterborough
Pat Hind School friend
Jean Linstrom School friend in Poplar
Elizabeth Charleston Parents in Malaysia, father died and mother and sister escaped to Australia
Celia Robinson Friend at home
Mavis Harris Friend at home
Nell Donovan
Husband Ted Donovan
Son Patrick Barmaid
Milkman who never missed a delivery
Prisoner of war for a year
Mrs and Mrs Goss Son Joe killed at Anzio in 1944
George Allen (1st husband) Royal Marine, served North Africa , Sicily and Italy

Although I didn't know him then, Grandad Ralph Smailes, Royal Engineers, served in France, Belgium,Holland and Germany as a Bridge Builder and construction unit.
Great Grandad (Mac) Smailes - small arms factory in Enfield Lock

I remember listening to the Radio and heard the Declaration of War.
I remember the sinking of the Graf Spee

I was in Peterborough when the planes flew over us to bomb Coventry

The first flying bomb, the V1 Doodle Bug to land in London flew over the St Leonards and cut out, glided on, we were not aware of what it was and were afraid a German pilot had bailed out over the house and were more scared of that.
We had several near V2 misses, one of which smashed the 2 large Bar windows.
There were incendary Bombs though the roof, also paving stones which fell through the roof onto parents bad. Luckily they were in the Cellar at the time, one through living room ceiling. My own room was never damaged.
The public house was usually only open on 4 days a week due to beer shortages…….

And that it as far as it goes !

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