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"This story was submitted to the People's War site by CSV/´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Nottingham on behalf of Eric Middleton with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions"

WIN WAS THE DAUGHTER OF GEORGE WILLIAM AND SARAH JANE MIDDLETON AND WAS BORN ON 21 APRIL 1910 AT 155 BOUNDARY ROAD, EAST HAM, WHERE SHE LIVED UNTIL 1934 WHEN THE FAMILY MOVED TO DELAMERE, 381 UPMINSTER ROAD NORTH, RAINHAM, ESSEX, WHERE WIN DIED ON 8 MARCH 1985.
SHE MARRIED EDWIN B TOMLINSON ATRAINHAM ON 31 JANUARY 1942.

August 24th 1940 Saturday
Just getting up 8.15 am Air Raid Siren went off about 8.25 am dived into the Shelter with S and his Mother. All Clear 9.10 am After having had lunch decided to take Mother over to the "Brown Hut"
It was a beautiful afternoon so thought I'd have a sun bathe, had opened windows, got Mother settled in the armchair, when terrific gunfire was heard on the Coast. Father said "Hurry up they're here" Time 3.40 pm I tore up the path, picked up the chair, put Mother in and ran like I've never run before. We had to double up to get to the shelter. Father said about 25-30 Nazis right over our heads. We only just reached the Shelter in time, bombs were dropped very close, in our road, five homes demolished, and several delayed action bombs went off after it was over. Time 5 pm Father and I went up on the verandah and while we were up there a delayed action bomb went off near the drome. Siren sounded again 12 midnight we all went down to the Shelter. Came back at … Didn't get much sleep Saturday night. Thank God we are still alive. Mother was a marvel, getting down to the Shelter so quickly.

August 25th 1940 Sunday
Had a quiet day, dinner over, Mother gave me a dose (Hock Aye!) and we both went to bed 2.15 pm didn't get up until 5 pm Feel much better for the rest Went to bed at 9.30 pm after my bath siren sounded 10.30 pm all went to the Shelter came back 11.30 pm Siren again 12.30 am all proceed to shelter. All Clear 1.5 am Went to sleep for the rest of the night. Didn't want to get up tho in the morning. Father and I re-arranged the Shelter, made it more comfortable, with the addition of a deck chair. Mother's leg very painful but she managed alright. Not much activity thank goodness. Should hate a repeat of yesterday's action too often.

August 26th 1940 Monday
Siren sounded 3.30 pm we all went down to the Shelter at the office. All Clear 4.5 pm Just finished a cup of Ovaltine when Siren sounded again 9_35 pm All Clear 3.40 am - six hours, the longest we've ever had. Felt awful in the morning! Shall need to sleep all day!!

August 27th 1940 Tuesday
"All Quiet on the Ilford Front" all day. Siren sounded 9.30 pm All Clear 11.50 pm Just arrived back in bed and nicely settled down when the blooming !? thing went off again 12.30 am to 1.20 am What a "to-do" ! Made ourselves very comfortable in the Shelter, Think we shall spend the night in there to save keep getting in and out of bed !!

August 28th 1940 Wednesday
Peace and quietness all day on the "Ilford Front". I went to Gidea Park to stay with Maude and Ethel. Had quite a busy evening in the Shop. Siren sounded 8.50 pm we rushed round and shut up the shop, gathered our goods and rushed over to the basement of the College opposite. M & E had a deck chair each and I made myself as comfy as possible. All Clear sounded 4.10 am Seven hours !! They did quite a bit of damage in Ilford. Am going home tonight. Do hope Mother & Dad OK Its a bit thick!! The "blue pencil" So and Sos ! !

August 29th 1940 Thursday
Wonders will never cease, all quiet all day long_ Edna arrived she hadn't been to bed for a week so as soon as it pipped 9 pm I said lets go to bed and get some rest. We slept until 11.40pm when we heard "our boys" overhead. Soon went off to sleep again and didn't wake until 6.45 am What a lovely night without any disturbances!

August 30th 1940 Friday
Siren sounded 11.50 am All Clear 12.35 pm We all went down to the shelter at the Office. Plenty of rude remarks about my knitting. It is a lovely day, sun very brilliant - hope we have another peaceful night. Siren sounded ?_.50 pm All Clear 3_35 pm We had our tea in the Shelter. Siren sounded 4.15 pm All Clear 5.50 pm Had just finished our Ovaltine when the "blue pencil" thing went again 9.10 pm All clear 3.40 am My goodness what a day Thank God we are alive

August 31st 1940 Saturday
Siren sounded 8.10 am All Clear 9 am Have just arrived at the office 10 am Its a beautiful day hope we shall have the remainder peaceful Am traveling alone this week-end as ‘Hawkey’ thought it inadvisable to travel. Just arrived home thank goodness siren sounded 1.10 pm All Clear 2.10 pm very heavy gunfire Aunties Tilly and Marie arrived 4.30 pm We all had tea in the garden a beautiful afternoon Siren sounded 6 pm - 7.20 pm (All Clear) We had a couple of incendiary bombs, one only a foot from the Shelter Tommy & Billy put them out. The field at the bottom of the garden was ablaze, AFS on the spot soon put that out. Siren sounded 10 pm - All clear 10.15 pm and again 11.30 pm - 12.5 am and again 12.30 am - 4 am !! Father slept in the shelter all night! Gee I am glad I arrived home in time on Saturday.

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