- Contributed by听
- Ipswich Museum
- People in story:听
- Keith Stopher.
- Location of story:听
- Ipswich, Suffolk.
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A3186362
- Contributed on:听
- 27 October 2004
I grew up in Gainsborough, Ipswich. I was only five when the War was declared but I can recollect hearing the declaration on Sunday the 3rd of September. The following week I started school in Raeburn Road and tried on my first Mickey Mouse gas mask.
The school playing field was dug up for an air-raid shelter. We had one in our own back garden. As soon as the siren went off our foxterrier would jump up and run to the shelter. It was always the first one in and the last one out.
My dad worked as a Progress Chaser at Ransomes, Sims and Jeffries, which was converted to war work. He was also an Air Raid Warden. Bombs dropped near us, behind the clinic.
Towards the end of the war we saw the huge fleet of planes and gliders flying over the town down the Orwell to cross the sea and go to Arnham.
My mother organised the street's VE Day Party.
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