大象传媒

This story was submitted to the Peoples War site by avolunteer from CSV on behalf of Mr Robert Hyde and has been added to the site with his permission, Mr Robert Hyde fully understands the site's terms and conditions
I was evacuated 6 months before the war started.When asked to put on a Gas mask I was chased around as i hated the smell of the rubber as well as being disappointed at not getting a 'Donald Duck' mask. However I used them as weapons in play fights.
During thethe Blitz i was in London for the first three months, which was very exciting for children,like an adventure. I was once scared when army used screaming bombs.
Adults transfered their anxiety to children.
I was mostly evacuated to diiferent places,Kent ,Sussex before the blitz where I watched German Dogfighters which were all overthe place. Because of the location Iwas in I saw plenty of action, which seemed very exciting to a young boy.
Planes and bombs became an everyday occurence and after the bombing I would find shrapnel shouting 'souvenirs' to friends, it was exiting and would try to get a peice of aeroplane from a wreck before police could get there. Since then I have always associated 'souvenir' with areoplane pieces.

When in Hampshire I used to carry US soldiers rifles for half a crown, I loved doing this.

My mother was in the ATS and my father was in the army. i was an only child.My father was killed in Italy during 1944 and my mother was given compassionate leave.

I came to Trafalgar Square on VE day, I wa here most of the day celebrating, the atmosphere was was fantastic. Dutch sailors gave me my first taste of whisky on that day but I didn't like it very much as I was only 11 years old. We came from Battersea that day where we were based and my mother had been Demobbed and was in her demobb suit which many comedians had made jokes about.

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