大象传媒

In the eary 1940s the Liverpool docks were a significant target for the Luftwaffe, and as we lived in Birkenhead my parents, my student age brother and I, aged 8, were vulnerable, as were our neighbours and friends locally. Our house in Prenton was a terraced, double fronted property. My father, who was in the timber trade in Liverpool, reinforced the area under the stairs and we spent our nights there. It was reasonably comfortable, with mattresses on the floor, and I was young enough to sleep through most of the air raids. Often one of the men would be out, on duty firewatching, and my mother would worry audibly about the safety of her husband or son.

One night in March 1941, I do not know the precise date, there was a strong north west wind blowing and consequently much of the ammunition intended for the Liverpool waterfront came to ground in Birkenhead.

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