大象传媒

I was at the outbreak of the 2nd World War in l939, attending the Frongoch Junior School in Grove Road. Denbigh. I lived in 5 Middle Lane, Denbigh with my parents, a younger brother and two sisters and during the early war years l939-l942 our family increased to nine in total with the addition of another brother and two sisters. The House had two rooms down stairs and two bedrooms and by today's standards very overcrowded.The back-yard had a Horse Stable with room for three Horses; there were also three other outbuildings together with a Pig Sty; outside water tap; a toilet at the far end of the yaard approximately 25 yards or so from the back door. We did for some reason keep a 'duck' who swam in an old tin bath full of cold water -she did provide us quite regular with 'eggs'. Cooking was undertaken on an open coal/log fire in one of the ground floor rooms and a gas stove in the other downstairs room. Our Radio or Wireless (as we called them) were run on a dry and w et battery (we had two as the latter had to be charged on a weekly basis)- I used to take one each week to Evan Jones, Love Lane for charging ( these premises still exist but it is T.V's etc now)

During the early part of l939 mention was made on the 'wireless' of possible War with Germany & Hitler. Everyone was told at various times to go to the County Hall, Denbigh (which is now the library)to get fitted for 'Gas Masks' - there were different one's - my brother and myself were fitted with one's similar to my parents - whereas my two sisters had coloured Micky Mouse ones - fortunately other than for practise purposes we never had to wear them.

During this period everyone was instructed that all black outs were put on all windows at night and also a blanket put behind each outside door so that no light was seen in the street when the doors were opened from the in side or out - From the outside you opened the door;went in closed the door and then opened the curtain - similar procedure but in reverse when leaving the house. Air Raid Wardens would cir culate the various estates to ensure that everyone complied - if not they could be prosecuted. Air Raid Sirens were placed on certain buildings - the one nearest my home was onj the Police Station which was then based in Vale Street, Denbigh. The Siren was sounded on approach of enemy \Planes and everyone was expected to get off t he streets. A second one with a slightly different tone was sounded as 'all clear'.

My father because he was over the age for call up at the time and as he had his own Lorry was enlisted into the 'Home Guar d', He kept his Lorry in the Hawk & Buckle Inn Yard in the Old Cockpit (which was later moved brick by brick to St.Fagans in South Wales.

Opposite my home at the top of Middle Lane, Denbigh was a large building whichy housed some 25 British Soldiers. There were several Army Camps in the Town which catered for British and American Troupes both Black and White. The Camps were mainly based in Hutments on Fields on Rhyl Road which are now large Housing Estates. Beyond the Convent on Mold Road there were Search Lights. Tanks, Anti Aircraft Guns. Army Lorries became a regular feature on the roads in the Town of Denbigh.

Denbigh Grammar School was situated in Middler Lane, Denbigh, inh the same Street as I lived and I recall a Boxing Match between Larry Gains and Ji9mmy Wild taking place on the playing field and this attracted a tremendous crowd of Militar\y personnel and localo people. I can recall a baseball match been held at Howell's School - who won I don't know as I did noty underswtand the game but it was well supported.
During the early part of the War the
Sirence would sound on a regular basis as German Aircraft were making their way to Liverpool - I and my brother would sit under the table at home until the 'all clear sirence' was sounded. Some bombs were offr loaded in the outskirts of the town when the planes were retyurning from their mission to Liverpool. One of the hobbies we as children had was collecting pieces of Bombs from various sights in the vicinity of Denbigh. The American Soldiers were very generous to the children with their chewing gum.

We did as children in the Area make our own contribution to the War effort by collecting over the years tons of cardboard and waste paper, Newspapers etc. and stored them in the entry and stable at my home for collection by the appropriate Authorities. Every Saturday morning my brother and myself would go with an old truck to fetch bags of logs from a nearby yard for old people living in Post Office Lene and Middle Lane.

I delivered Liverpool evening newpapers to some 60 or so houses in Denbigh during the period l940 to l945. I would go to collect the newspapers at Denbigh Railway Station (which was sit uated on the site of the outskirts of the present Kwick Save) from the 7.l0 p.m. Chester - Denbigh Train. There was of course no street lighting and I relied on the "stars", the "moon" once a month and searchlight beams - fear was not at that age in my or other children's vocabulary and the streets were safer in those days in the blackout than they are today because your enemy was in the sky and not on the ground.

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