大象传媒

War Life in Liverpool

I was nearly nine years old when war was declared and soon the effect on my family was devastating.

My Father had a decorating business and he and his men were unemployed when war started. His savings would have to feed five of us as he could not claim benefit as a self-employed person.

Economies were put into place. Our endowment policies were surrendered and a little cash received for them.

Each evening I had to make twenty home-made cigarettes on a Rizla machine for my Father as shop cigarettes were too expensive. An ancient treadle sewing machine was bought for thirty shillings from a rag and bone man and dresses were inexpertly stitched for my sister Pat and myself. (The material cost 6p per yard)

Gas masks were issued at local schools during this period and incendiary bombs dropped along Edge Lane (where we lived) directed at Edge Hill goods depot. The first high explosive bomb was dropped on Edge Lane and two houses were completely demolished.

A little later Edge Hill Training College received a direct hit. As we lived very near to it many people were allowed to shelter in the basement. Some friends of ours heard about the shelter and intended going there the night it was hit. Their little girl became ill so they postponed the visit and saved their lives. The boilers burst at Edge Hill College and rumours abounded that the bodies could not be removed and were limed in. The local paper issued a denial and stated that all the bodies were removed.

When money became very short (after nearly nine months) Pat and I had to visit the pawn shop. In a case we put my Dad鈥檚 suit and the mantelpiece clock. We received ten shillings for them. With our last penny I was sent for one banana which we three children shared for our meal.

The next day Father went to the Public Assistance Office and faced a panel of three men. 鈥淧lease, no food coupons鈥� he said 鈥� 鈥淢y wife will not use them. I know I am not entitled to unemployment benefit, I have not paid contributions as I have been self-employed since I was twenty-one, but I have provided jobs for seven men and four boys 鈥� surely I deserve some credit for that鈥� He was given 拢4 for that week and 拢4 for the following week.

We left the little house we were buying and handed the keys to the mortgagees. The five of us moved into my Grandma鈥檚 tenement flat sharing a small bedroom and leaving most of our belongings in the house we left.

Grandma鈥檚 flat was close to the docks which were bombed repeatedly and sleep was impossible so each evening we made our way to a relative鈥檚 house in Sparrow Hall to sleep on the floor. To help people from the dockside area to reach the outskirts of town, flat back lorries would pull up on Scotland Road and people would be helped on board with their bedding bundles.

My Father found work as a ship鈥檚 painter. Cruise ships were being converted to troop carriers so my Father worked throughout the rest of the war. So that my Father could get to work easily we found overnight shelter in the basement of Silcocks cattle food factory in Great Howard Street. We slept (a little) on wooden sheets but we smelt disgustingly of cattle food.

Christmas and my tenth birthday four days later were the saddest days in my young life. There was nothing on Christmas morning, not even a sweet or a tangerine. (I think my Mother had given up hope when we lost our business and our home)

Evacuation to Shropshire

The Government offer to relocate children to safety in the country offered a solution to our overcrowding problem. So with our labels attached to our buttonholes and our haversacks on our backs, Pat and I in a long crocodile of children walked along Vauxhall Road to Exchange Station. After boarding a train we seemed to be travelling for hours and it was dusk when the train stopped at Church Stretton in Shropshire.

A list of names was called out including ours and everybody rushed to the door. I could not see my sister and began to cry in the confusion. She came back into the carriage and found me and we were taken to a Church hall and given a mug of soup (slightly burnt) but the first sustenance we had all day.

An elderly lady told us we were to follow her and her neighbour gave us a lift to our new home, a bungalow called 鈥業ngleton鈥� situated in a large garden on Watling Street.

One boy (Francis F.) who was my age, was billeted with a retired Major. Francis, whose national health glasses were secured with string, was whisked off to Shrewsbury Hospital and tested and fitted with smart spectacles. Next he was taken to the Major鈥檚 tailor and fitted with a Harris Tweed suit in rust with a floppy cap.

Our school for the under elevens was the small robing room of a local Church. When school started the teacher asked Francis about his morning routine. Francis stuttered 鈥淢-m-m Miss, when I wake up I ring the bell and the maid brings me a cup of tea. Then I ring the bell again and she brings me warm water for me to wash鈥�

The Army stationed nearby used to drill in the Streets of Church Stretton. One day the officer was intoning 鈥淟eft, right, left right鈥︹�� Francis joined in repeating 鈥淟eft, right, left right鈥︹�� and the officer said to a soldier, 鈥淕rab that kid in the red hat鈥�. Francis was taken to barracks and kept there for several hours. He told us that he was given a bun and a cup of tea.

Another boy, Charles B. who was about 12 or 13 years old stole some chocolate laxative from the chemists and gave it to the local boys telling them it was Cadburys. The Headmaster of the village school lined them all up the next day and asked them how many squares they had eaten. (It was quite a large amount)

Whilst in Church Stretton an event was held and a slogan competition about saving for the war effort. My slogan won and at the Town Hall I was presented with my prize (half a guinea). I went to the post office and bought a postal order and sent the money home. The two maiden ladies who looked after us were not pleased with what I had done with the prize money. They pointed out that our clothes were worn and darned.

I replied, 鈥淵ou do not realize that my Mother has got no money鈥�

Joan Gilmour (nee Burke)
Liverpool 2005

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