大象传媒

I was born in the early morning of Sunday 21 January during the bitter cold winter of 1940. This severe weather lasted for weeks. Naturally during this time the Country was at war with Germany. My family Grand Parents, Mum, Dad & older Brother was then in great danger because we lived very close to both the Chester Railway line into Crewe, also the Locomotive Railway Works & Rolls Royce Factory. Who at this time were building Aircraft Parts & Engines.

German bombers did get through on several occasions, it was Rolls Royce which was badly hit on one raid. The next bomb was at Cheshire Cheese Gresty on the outskirts of Crewe Main Railway Junction. There were several people killed with lots of near misses. People lived in fear of their lives. When the siren was heard we had to go into the Air Raid Shelter at the back of our house.

As the war progressed it then became impossible for us to live in Minshull New Road. My dad & Uncle Fred were commandered to join the Home Guard 'Dads Army' as it became affectionatly known.

Whilst my Grand Parents reared chickens and dug for England on their Allotments providing food & sustinence for themselves,
friends & neighbours. Bartering became a very popular past time.

It was then decided when I was five months old that it was now time to evacuate part of my family to the peace & tranquility of Glossop in Derbyshire. We went on the steam train with my Mother, Brother Ivor & Cousin Jean. My Father & Uncle Fred accompanied us for the journey. Then they had to return home to work & Guard Duties.

My Cousin Jean stayed throughout the Summer Holiday & then had to return to School in
Crewe, at this time she was over ten years old.

We stayed on in the Peak National Park, it is very wild & beautiful up there. It was Chapel Street down very close to the River Ashop, where we stayed with Uncle Albert & Auntie Sarah Anne Mellor.

The time passed very quickly we enjoyed many Summer afternoon walks & outdoor games. In the evening during Black Out time we listened to the World News on the 大象传媒. Actually I learned to walk during this time & seem to remember a dark dissmal visit going down into a Cellar.

We returned home to Crewe when my brother became old enough to start School & when it was safe to do so.

During this time I distinctively remember owning & carrying my Gas Mask & wearing my identity chain & disc. Our house faced the Methodist Church at the back of the Church were the Balloon Fields, these were really huge. The Air Raid Shelter was just at the back of our house, there we took refuge until the All Clear Siren sounded. In the shelter it was cold & we had to be wrapped in blankets, it was dark with only candles or a hand torch to see anything. We slept on what one could only describe as wooden benches, they doubled up as tables during the day.

Even when I became old enough to go to school at the age of four the sirens screemed out to warn us of an imminent attack. I went to the School across the road from my house. When there had been an Air Raid the previous night all us children were told to down pencils, slates & books & go to sleep to try to compensate on health grounds. Ration Books & Clothing coupons were given to the whole population & were very closely guarded.

At the age of five I moved to the other nearby Primary School which was held in rooms at the Local Webb Orphanage. I went to school with my brother.

As the War eventually was drawing to a close Rationing was still very much a burden
on all the working classes. There were lots of huge queues in shops & markets. The Black Market grew more & more popular as the Rich Classes could buy almost anything.
When one looks back times do not change much do they?

Milk was then delivered to homes by Horse & Cart. The milk had come straight from the farm & was carried in a Milk Churn. It was poured into a ladel a long-handled spoon having a deep bowl for serving or transferring liquids directly into ones personal Jug.

We were members of the Local Church & went twice or three times a day. It was very exciting when it was time for the Sunday School Anniversary. We were all there in our very Best Clothes looking beautiful just as though butter would not melt in our mouths. We had rehearsed very earnestly for weeks to perfect our songs & voices. Our up bringing & Faith saw us through many dark and trying times.

It was through the sacrifice of thousands of our Armed forces & Allies, also this was the Will of God that we lived safely on to this May 8 2005 Celebration.

This Project is a very Important& Necessary Exercise to obtain sufficient information across the Country from Ordinary Everyday People. This will be keenly analysed by the 大象传媒 / Graduates then kept safely for future generations to view. Trying to understand just how horriffic War is. Hopefully from this Mankind can learn from History to work excessively hard to bring Peace to our Troubled World.

Vanda Hulse

Monday 25 April 2005

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