大象传媒

BARRAGE BALLOONS

The bomb sites were used to park barrage balloons. Our nearest
in Emmerson Square was our favourite. We gave them all names
which I now forget. Sometimes, they escaped their moorings
and went flying free over the house tops like silver elephants.
Sometimes you could see them in the searchlights/ bursting
into flames, when they got shot up by enemy planes.

DAD'S WORK AND THE OLD QUEEN

My father worked throughout the war at Charles Hills Shipyard/
who were making flower class Corvettes as quickly as they could.
Most of them did escort duties on the North Atlantic convoys.
They helped to make the Merchant fleets journey's safer.
I went to many commissioning ceremonies and parties with my
parents. One I remember was very special as the old queen
as she was known, was going to launch the ship. I was allowed
the great privilege of standing on the launching platform,
right behind Queen Mary. She was a very imposing figure,
dressed in a long powder blue coat and matching toque hat. I
was about level with her elbows, and was amazed to see that the
elbows of her coat were neatly darned. Shortly after this,
we got the news that America was sending us what were called
Liberty ships. Dad said that they would not be much good
as they were welded and not riveted, and would not bend in the
sea without breaking.

PARTIES

We had got used to the air-raids by this time, and had parties
night after night. Dad used to bring home the newly arrived
crews of the Corvettes. Officers on one night, (that was Pink gin
night), and ratings and Petty Officers on another night.(that
was Bitter and I.P.A night). There was always someone who
played the piano really well, including my mother, and we made
enough noise to drown out any air-raids. We were interrupted
one evening when a bomb fell at the back of us and all the
windows blew in, yet again. It was rather draughty so all the
men pushed the piano into the front room and the party continued.
At one of these parties a tall sailor called Lofty told me
his wife was going to have a baby, and if it was a girl he
would call her 'Shelagh' after me. He latter was lost in the
North Atlantic. I often wonder is he ever saw his baby.

BLACKOUT

Our windows were criss-crossed with sticky tape to prevent the
glass flying when they blew in because of the bomb blasts. I can
remember sticking tape on the replacement windows. Dad had made
panels of black pressed cardboard to use as blackout for the
windows. This was to prevent the air-raid Wardens shouting at us
"Put that light out". One sunny Saturday morning, I was having

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