大象传媒

MADGE BRITAIN

I was 8 years old when the war started and I recall going round the corner with my mother and grandmother to buy a few bags of sugar and tea 鈥� they must have thought it would only last a few weeks.

Living in Northern Ireland we didn鈥檛 get many air raids, but we did have shelters 鈥� built in the road outside the houses. Of course, we thought that the war would soon be over. I had tow uncles who were in the army 鈥� my father鈥檚 brother Uncle Sammy who was a regular soldier and he was a Sergeant PE Instructor. The other uncle 鈥� Alex 鈥� husband of my mother鈥檚 sister, Teenie, was on ambulances and spent a few years in Burma. Thankfully both survived the war.

A brother of my mother lived in the Oldpark area in Belfast and he worked shifts in the GPO. He was at work during the Easter Blitz and when he returned home in the morning his house was a mass of rubble. I recall going with my mother and aunt to Oldpark Avenue to his house. He was sorting through the rubble. When he saw us he called out 鈥淒on鈥檛 stand there, come on in and have a cup of tea鈥�. He was always known for his dry humour.

In Northern Ireland we didn鈥檛 have many air raids 鈥� too far to come frequently. However, the Germans made it worth their while when they did venture as far as NI.

When rationing was on, many people made trips to the Republic of Ireland, to buy butter, cheese and such like, also clothes. Many and varied are the stories of how these goods were concealed on the person in order to get through the customs.

I was at a business training school in Belfast 鈥� Miss Gordon鈥檚 Shorthand and Typing Academy when the war ended so was near to the City Hall when celebrations were going on. During the war I was in the Junior girls Auxiliary at the Presbyterian Church. On the meeting night I would go out, little torch in my hand to the church. Even in the blackout there was no fear of being molested.

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