大象传媒

As a seven year old, war was something completely unknown. It was a mystery where adults were expected to have answers and I, for one such child of the time, had complete confidence in my parents, yet wholly unaware of the terrible decisions they were having to take. Of their feelings, watching us go, one can only guess. I was evacuated to Yorkhire and then to Mansfield. I returned to my home in Southend On Sea for my senior school years.

At school we had air raid shelter training. It was a Saturday night raid when the school was bombed. We started our holidays early that year. In our house we were issued with a Morrison Shelter. Our neighbour had an Anderson Shelter. These were often seen after the war as garden sheds. Our Morrison doubled as a table in our front room and a night den when my friend came to stay - wonderful for midnight feasts.

Clothes rationing became a problem at this time. I was growing fast; new clothes and shoes were often second hand. My skirts were always too short and it was so embarrassing going on stage at school infront of everyone to get extra coupons because I had big feet!

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Helena Noifeld and has been added to the website on behalf of Gwendoline Ardley with her permission. She fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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