大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Sue Smith on behalf of Barbara Wheeler and has been added to the site with her permission. Mrs Wheeler fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.
When I was about six years old I was living in Forest Gate in London with my parents. We had relatives in Wales and I had been sent to stay with them while my mother was giving birth to my brother. I can always remember one particular event. We had been in the shelter all night and when we came out my mother lifted me up and said, 鈥淵ou鈥檒l never see a sight like that again鈥�. When I looked the sky was absolutely red for Canning Town was ablaze. My father was in the Merchant Navy and so for safety we moved to Barry Island in Wales. Near Christmas my teacher asked if anyone had a father in the forces as the Americans were organising a party for the children of those who were serving. I was allowed to go and was picked up by the GI鈥檚 in an open truck and taken to the camp. They had laid on a wonderful spread and afterwards we were allowed to choose a wooden toy made by one of the soldiers. They tried to persuade me to have a doll or doll鈥檚 house but I chose a truck for my baby brother as I knew we couldn鈥檛 afford any toys that Christmas. Because I had not chosen for myself they loaded me up with food and chocolate to take home so the whole family had a wonderful time even though we missed my father.

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