大象传媒

The war had started long before the air raids. On a Saturday afternoon of the first air raid I was sixteen and working in a greengrocer's. As I was talking to a customer I felt my stomach turn over-something was going to happen! The shop was bombed and the boats and buildings were ablaze down on the river. You could see the first dogfight in the sky.
The worse moment was being in the air raid shelter and not knowing what was happening.
Later when I was eighteen, I started work at the Woolwich Arsenal Factory. One happier memory is living on bread and dripping. With a shortage of stockings we had to draw lines up the backs of our legs to give a 'seamed' effect. I would go into the backyard with a friend and we'd take turns to stand on a chair and do each other's legs. We thought the garden was secluded, but one day we saw a flash and looked up to see some soldiers watching our endeavours from the barrack windows which overlooked the yard!
During the war we had to make do and mend, I remember having a pair of pyjamas made from parachute silk.

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