大象传媒

My parents married in 1936 and I was the first child and I remained the only child until 1946 when my brother was born. We lived in a terraced house in an area of such houses in Bootle, a county borough on the northern boundary of Liverpool. About one mile from our house are two of the largest docks that are on the shores of the River Mersey. They are Canada Dock and Gladstone Dock.

When war broke out in 1939 I can remember my father putting sticky tape in a criss-cross pattern on the windows. My mother took me to the council office, where I was issued with my 鈥淢ickey Mouse鈥� gas mask. In 1940 my father was called up for service in the RAF. Later he was sent to India and I did not see him until 1945. My mother looked after me and would not let me be evacuated, as other children were. She said 鈥淚f we were going to be killed we would be together鈥�. She was a good manager and despite the rationing and shortages I was always well fed and clothed and kept warm.

Towards the end of 1940 the Germans began serious raids on the Liverpool/Bottle docks, because of the cargo links with North America/Canada/West Africa. Bootle suffered serious bombing. At first, when the sirens sounded, we ran to huge communal shelters which had been built in the local park. Later we had our own brick and concrete shelter in the back yard. Some people, who had infants or elderly people living with them or who had no room in the yard, had an iron table installed in the kitchen (sitting room). Underneath was surrounded by wire mesh to protect the occupants should the house fall on them. I knew people who always slept there.

My mother, like everyone else, had to do 鈥渨ar work鈥� and she worked in 鈥淛ohnsons Dyers and Cleaners鈥� factory, which was in the next street. When she was at work, her mother, my 鈥渘an鈥� looked after me. Her husband, my 鈥渟tep grandfather鈥� was my Uncle Jack, a marvellous gentleman, who was about 60 years of age plus. I can tell many stories about him and his kindness to me.

I began school early aged 4 years, so that I would be looked after in the daytime. We had canvas cot beds and on sunny afternoons we would take them into the schoolyard for the whole class to have a nap. This was for two reasons (a) to rest because our nights were disturbed by the air raids and (b) to boost our vitamin intake from the sunshine.

Severe bombing of the area took place in 1941 especially the well-documented 鈥淢ay Blitz鈥�. I remember being taken to school but a house had been blown up opposite the main gate, which was blocked, as the street was full of rubble. We were all sent home until it was cleared and the area made safe.

I can remember:-

(A) The 鈥渂lackout鈥� = the black curtain and no street lights.

(B) Each street had an 鈥淎.R.P.鈥� (Air Raid Precaution), ours was Mr Wildman. He enforced regulations and kept a nominal list to assist rescue.

(C) Rationing of food and clothing and, of course, sweets.

(D) The bombing 鈥� houses near to us were bombed as well as two local factories.

(E) My Uncle Jack lost his job when his factory was destroyed (Bryant and May Matchmakers). He then worked for the council painting the letters E.W.S. on the tanks (Emergency Water Supply).

(F) I can remember the above tanks being 鈥渋n situ鈥� years after the war.

(G) My Uncle Jack made toys for me out of waste and scrap.

(H) People bartered 鈥� my mother always had a store of sugar, thanks to a gypsy鈥檚 blessing.

(I) In the local park and about 400 yards from my house was a barrage balloon station run by female soldiers.

(J) Later on, I was issued with my adult gas mask in the familiar cardboard box fitted with string, so you carried it with you (when the danger was past we used it as a lunch box).

(K) The council removed all the iron railings from houses and parks for the 鈥渨ar effort鈥�.

(L) The shore (beach) was covered in concrete tank traps.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.