大象传媒

This story has been submitted to the People's War site by Chris Hall for Kent Libraries and Archives and Canterbury City Council Museums on behalf of Mrs B. V. Lamoon and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

The war was coming and was to be a great part of our lives for a few years to come.Docks were busy with movements of troops and equipment. Royal Marine Engineers were building submarine pens. There was so much going on the air was tense, even us children could sense the fear in the grown ups.I remember the day the Gordon Highlanders marched to the Western Docks to embark they played as they went, I cried for my friends' fathers were
with them. It was the start of my growing up to face the coming years. I was not going to see the same early teens as my sister.
At the fall of Dunkirk it got worse, night and day boatman toiled with others hardly any sleep. All small craft went to the rescue of the troops caught on the beaches of France. Daddy was kept in the harbour as they said he was of more value here knowing so much about sea, tides and depths of the water. He could bring in the ships day or night. My father couldn't sleep for long; something to eat and a snooze in his favorite chair by the fire then away he went. He had to keep going until the last boy came home was the one thought he had.
In the first war he was in the Royal Navy and like other older men knew something of what it was like.I have much admiration for the work my father has done.
Tank traps began to appear outside our doors and barbed wire was everywhere no longer could we walk up the cliff path. Caves were cleared cement floors were laid and iron bunk beds were allotted to us. Troops,sailors,marines and airmen were all mixed up with us.The bunks were three tiered and I slept in the middle bunk, a sailor the bottom and a petty officer the top. No one took the slightest notice we were all in the same boat.In one section of the Atholl Terrace Cave was a Naval Sick Bay. We never saw in the bay as it had big wire gates. Dr Brennan was in charge of it all and had his sick bay at "Sidney Villas" opposite our house at East Cliff.He was a very kind man to the people who lived in
East Cliff and came to see them when they were sick.I was ill one night and had a fever mummie wasn't near me and the Petty Officer on the top bunk called Dr Brennan to me he gave me some thing to take and to see my own Doctor the next day. I was away from work two weeks.It was the time "Woolworths" got shelled.
Few people knew that we were cut off from the rest of the town,we were a commnunity of our own behind high boarding and barbed wire. No one in the town could see the sea any more and no one could visit us.
Kathleen's husband was a sergeant in the Somerset Light Infantry and came to say goodbye just before D-Day.He was held at the barrier at Travanion Street.The sergeant in charge who knew us came to mummie to go and identify him.He had a pass to enter Dover but not to East Cliff so we all went to the barrier and stood there crying; at last he was let in and came home for a few hours.We never saw him again as he died July 10 1944 at Caen.I received a letter from a soldier in his unit telling me of his death and was buried in the corner of a cornfield.
Kathleen had not heard from him so I travelled up to Warrinton to break the news to her.

If one wanted to stay out after 10 pm a pass had to be signed by the police and army officer at East Cliff. I stayed
out once and was so scared coming to the barrier and the soldier shouting "WHO GOES THERE?" All I could say was "IT'S ME, IT'S ME" at which the answer came in the dark "ADVANCE ME AND BE RECOGNIZED". He knew who I was and said "you should have said FRIEND". All the forces knew this small group of people who lived at East Cliff. All the houses from Castle Street Sea Front to East Cliff were bombed or shelled. Rubble lay everywhere in the ruins. Children played in the street at East Cliff and the forces joined in.
We were entertained by a soldier playing an accordian to which young and old danced. The Welsh Fusiliers sang to us and they went to Canterbury Cathedral at Christmas but we couldn't go.We did have the pleasure of hearing them sing from the big house opposite us where they were billeted.
Also opposite us was the cookhouse and we watched them cooking in the rain in great big pots with chimneys. We were given cheese, herrings in tomato sauce, margarine and sometimes a piece of meat. There seemed to be no shortage as food went to the pig bins.It was hard for people in the town to know what it was like for a small group of people living amongst so many forces.Every one was so friendly to each other. I have seen some talk to each other that have not spoken for years. No one ever locked the door and no one lived in fear. Our door was never locked as Daddy was now under the Merchant Navy and had a special ration book.
First of all he was with the barrage balloons and later he was waterman amongst other things for the ships.The craft he sailed was a Dutch river barge called the "Lodesman". Life by now was getting bad; raids and shelling day and night,our bags had to be ready packed in case we were to be evacuated at short notice.
One bag each was the limit so older had to carry for the young. At night one could hear the movements of troops but never knew what they were doing .In the morning on going to work there were all landing craft in the harbour with the canvas sides flapping in the wind.
Stews were the main meals we ate as they were the best to warm up after the all clear siren was sounded. So many times we had to run to the shelters turning off the meal before running to the caves.We had an arrangement with the lady next door who had three little girls and her husband worked in the dock yard they had come her from Chatham. If she heard the siren first she would knock on the wall and vice versa. We took her children and she the bits and pieces for them and ran to the caves.I took Granny Burvill as she was slow and had bad legs. Many times I never got to the caves before a shell landed.Near D DAY we were to spent more time in the caves than out.
In the caves was a stove which was kept going and gave some warmth and comfort as the caves were damp although warm. Mr Hoyle was the warden, we always thought he was a bit grumpy . We played cards ,darts and any games that people donated.There was a whist drive one night a week for those that liked it. A church service on Sunday, it was like a social gathering forces and civilians joining in together. Mum never joined in with them we were a
quiet family.

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