大象传媒

My Grandmother lived in Hitchin, in Hertfordshire during World War two. Her father was a fireman on the railways so he didn't have to take part in the war. She said he was probably too old to be involved any way. She was 8 at the time it started,and attended the local school. She said that she was really excited when she was told that another school was going to have to share their one. Eastbourne girls school had been evacuated and they were going to use their school in the afternoon so they only had to do half a day of work which she said was great. Two girls from that school came to stay with them and she said they were really scared at first but they became good friends. They also had some Polish refugees who came to live with them. She didn't like them being there because they talked Polish and she never new what they were talking about. They stayed with them for most part of the war. The only bit she didn't mind was missing school but she was very scared. They even went as far as to sleep under the dining room table in case they were bombed. She told me that it got a bit cramped under that table.

She cringed at the thought of the food they had to eat when the war was going on. She said it was terrible and she hated it. Her family kept rabbits and chickens so they could eat the eggs and the meat. She vaguely remembers the feeding of the chickens and she says she was disapointed when they died.

She said that not many clothes or footwear were available and she blames her bad feet on the shoes she was made to wear. They had to take the shoes and clothes that were available even if they didn't fit. Her memory of attemping to squash her feet into hugely uncomfertable shoes is very strong.

Hitchin was a small town and it didn't get bombed alot which was lucky for her. She remembers the blackouts when the curtains were closed and the doors were locked. She told me that it was very dark and she was quite frightened of it and was relieved when they could let the light in.

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