大象传媒

Gordon was ten when the war started and 16 when it ended. He was just too young to be called up - althought he later did National Service in the airforce.

He remembers the following aspects of life during the war.

Schools were closed the beginning of the war because there were fears of bombing. After some months other types of education came in. Some people had lessons in private houses - in groups - teachers came round to the house. They had about five houses each. Children had an amount of work to do each - this was a it like homework today and they marked work and returned it on their next visit.

As the fear of bombing died down, public building re-opened. At first church halls and other buildings were put to use as temporary schools, but the the schools re-opened.

Gordon wasn't evacuated, although many children from Sunderland were. He remembers some memorable incidents - at least they seemed this way to a young boy.

Two of our own trainer planes collided in mid-air and crashed into the housing estate where he lived. No real damage was done.

The shipyards in Sunderland and tghe main shopping area were bombed and there was lots of damage. Sunderland railway station was hit. Gordon particularly remembers seeing aerial dogfights in the ksy over Sunderland. He saw enemy planes shot down over Sunderland. One plane crashed into the cemetry and killed the horses that were stabled there. No people were killed.

When there were raids people used to get out of bed and go into Andersen shelters in the garden. These were made of corrugated iron sheets buried in the earth. They were cold and damp - and smelly.

The shelters didn't provide much protection. Gordon lived in Ford Estate, Sunderland. A family came to live over the road. Some of the family members had been killed while they sheltered in their Andersen shelter. Those who were re-housed. Lots of people ended up living with extended families as more and more people lost their homes.

Although many of Gordon's uncles had fought in WW1 - lunckily only one uncle was injured in Gallipoli - most of his family were either in reserved occupations or else were too young for WW1 and old to fight in WW2. His two elder brothers were both in the shipyards, but had other civilian defense roles at night time too. Andrew was in the home guard and John was a fire watcher. He cycled around checking for and reporting bombs and fires.

Gordon also remembers that his school sports days were cancelled because pupils weren't allowed to travel any distances that were unnecessary. Petrol was in short supply and, in any case, it wasn't safe to be out. He and his friends did have a competition where they collected pieces of shrapnel. The boy who found the biggest piece on a particular day was judged the winner. Also, the small parachutes that came down with incendiary bombs were prized possessions. Some clothes were made with real parachute silk and these were always of great interest to children.

He remembers, too, that there was great celebration when the war ended - parties and dancing in the streets - but there was also unhappiness after the immediate euphoria. There was strict rationing and people weren't immediately de-mobbed. It took months in some cases for men to return home.

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