大象传媒

This story has been submitted to the People's War website by Don and Betty Tempest of the Lancshomeguard on behalf of Edna Slater and added to the site with her permission.

I remember getting out of bed in the night because of the Air-Raids. I remember the Air-Raid Shelters. And they were full people sheltered in schools and in churches, playing Banjo's/Accordions and singing to block out the noise of the bombs. When we couldn't get to the shelters because one of us was ill, we used to get under the bed in the front parlour. (By 'WE' I mean my Mam, my sisters Joan, Rita, Irene, Betty, and myself.) Our Father was in the Army.

When I was about 5years our house was bombed, in fact the whole street was gone, all the people who hadn't made it to the shelter must have been killed.

I remember we had to go and stay with our Grandma and Grandad and Aunty Lizzie, until we were evacuated. I stayed with my Mum and my sister Betty, but my older sisters were sent to private homes in Wales. Later Mam wasn't happy about where the older sisters were, so she brought them home.

The next thing I remember was being sent with my older sisters to Colomendy Camp in Mold, Wales. there we lived in big dormitories, and had bunk beds to sleep in. My Mam used to visit us sometimes and take us to the little cafe in the village.

My Father came when he was on leave and brought us his chocolate ration which consisted of a dozen bars. We used to have to put them in a 'Tuck Room' along with the other children's food. This was kept locked and my older sister, Rita, was in charge of the key, so we had to ask her for anything we wanted.

It was a very big camp and there were children from all over the country. I was nearly seven when we were told that Mam had got a house in Nelson, Lancashire, where we could all be together. My Father came to take us there and we had to go by train. When we arrived in Nelson, a neighbour, came to meet us and showed us where to go.

The next morning I remember being wakened by the sound of marching feet, I jumped out of bed, running around the room shouting, 'The Germans are coming'. I was told later that it was the mill workers going to work wearing 'clogs', which was what most people wore on their feet in Nelson.

I went to Leeds Road school where I made friends with Ursula, June, Mary, Cora, Millie, Rita, Alma, Jenny and some boys. We have a school reunion every year and talk about the things we did in our childhood, there are lots of tears, some of sadness, but most of joy.

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