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One Sunday night we were prepared for the air raids by being given gas masks. Churchill was on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ radio, he was introduced saying: “we are in a terrible state, England is losing 6 ships a day. America-can you help? “
Those were the glory days. We never mentioned America saving us. Everyone owed money to America. History books only tell you what you want to know. I was in the cost department; every part of the ship had to be priced. I had to sign a secrecy act. The secrecy act prevented me from saying anything to anyone about my job. Five nights a week I went to night classes. We got a scare when the air-raid siren went off.
Everyone hated the air-raid shelter because we couldn’t breathe. The shelters were dark and stuffy. During the war I collected autographs.
Rationed food was not that bad, mothers and fathers gave up their rations to the children so they could eat. Things like powdered egg, cheese, sugar, bacon and meat and bread. I was 18 when the war started and 24 when it ended. I had lots of fun during the war. I did an Apprenticeship in engineering during the war; they dropped a bomb on the spillers. North-East England was not bombed as much as other cities. You were forced to live your life the same as before the war. When the air-raid siren went off I was in the fire service. Fires broke out in New Bridge Street, a big warehouse that was 4 or 5 stories high, a German plane had bombed that. Germans were still bombing it when it was on fire.

By Katie Darling and Stacey Leach, Y9 students from George Stephenson High School, Killingworth, Newcastle upon Tyne.

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