大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Claire White of 大象传媒 Scotland on behalf of Ada Stewart and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was 11 when war broke out in 1939. My most vivid memory was in 1942 when Hall Russell Shipyard was bombed. My brother had just got a job there and I was worried about his safety.

I was in our house (number 4 Link Street) when the bombing started. I remember the front door crashing shut and pushing me right over! I heard a terrible noise so I went out to see what all the commotion was about. I saw civilians taking injured people up the road on a horse and cart and any other available vehicle. My dad was away working and came home to check my brother was OK. Many workers who were having a lunchtime drink in the Neptune bar were killed in this incident. A number of the bar windows were blown in causing havoc for those inside.

I also remember young girls picking up coal off the beach in Aberdeen during the war. Nobody could afford to buy coal so locals collected what had been washed up onto the beach from ships. One day I was collecting coal when a German plane flew over and we could see the black crosses on its undercarriage. The cemetry was badly bombed those on the beach escaped unhurt.

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