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Part One of this story can be found at bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2a4647819

We children were included in the ‘war effort.’ We used to collect waste paper and take it to school where we were rewarded according to the quantity taken with cardboard badges, working up through the military ranks. One boy reached ‘Field Marshall’. I don’t think I got beyond Corporal. We, yes the boys as well as the girls, used to knit socks for the soldiers. How many ever reached the soldiers I really wonder. I was soon taken off socks and transferred to kettle holders. What use they were to the soldiers I have no idea!

The true reality of the war was for most of us children outside our understanding, but I recall being very jolted when I heard that the father of one of my school friends had been killed in Germany. I couldn’t imagine what that must mean.

In the early days after the war things did change, albeit slowly. One day we were told to take one pound jam jars to school. The Americans had sent over a huge quantity of chocolate powder for the British school children and we were to receive one pound each. It was quickly realised that chocolate powder being lighter than jam, a one pound jam jar wouldn’t hold one pound of chocolate powder. So we had to take a two pound jar for a top up. Children were to be seen (myself amongst them) walking home from school sticking licked fingers into their chocolate jars for another yummy taste!

The convoys continued though to a lesser extent and American jeep convoys were a regular feature on the A49. As they drove past we children would shout, ‘Any gum chum?’ in the hope that a packet of Yankee gum would come our way. Often it did, and sometimes there would be a packet of dates as well. To my shame I recall having a punch up with another boy who tried to grab a packet of dates, which I was sure sure, had been intended for me.

Later still cargo ships began to return to the Manchester Ship Canal bringing fruit from overseas. We would line the banks of the canal hopefully, and were not disappointed. On more than one occasion I arrived home with a couple of oranges. When bananas were tossed to us, I didn’t know what they were!

When VJ was past, all the school children received a letter from King George VI thanking us for our courage and help during the war.

Radio in Wartime was very important. We children were always very quiet during the news, as our parents anxiously listened to it. There was light relief too in the form of ITMA and the memorable Mr Tommy Handley. Wilfred Pickles with Violet Carson at the piano and his producer Barney Colehan - ‘Give im the money Barney’ kept the nation light hearted with his ‘have a go.’ ‘At Much Binding in the Marsh’ was another favourite, with ‘Worker’s Playtime’ helping to lift the spirits of the people in the factories.

I recall being puzzled when our teacher told us that after the war we would have new, different wirelesses, with a new screen replacing the tuning dial. She was referring of course to TV. I found that very odd, for unlike many radios of the time, our wireless (a Philco) had a tuning dial about the size of two penny stamps. I didn’t reckon much to the idea of peering at a picture as small as that. When TV’S did arrive they mostly had nine inch screens. Many people bought magnifiers for them. Some folk, anticipating colour TV even bought colour ‘filters’ for their black and white sets. The filter was simply a piece of plastic about the size of the screen with green at the bottom and blue at the top, which was fine for about 1% of the time when the picture was of a field and a sky, but pretty useless otherwise!

This story has been submitted to the site by Alison Tebbutt, on behalf of Revd. John D. Bland MBE, BA. The auhtor has given his permission, and fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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