大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People`s War site by Alan Magson of Age Concern Bradford and District on behalf of Betty Hall, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site`s terms and conditions.

My memories of war experiences began with rumours of war and being teased about not being able to have a light on! ( I was afraid of the dark !) I was nine years old when war started.
Then memories of going to school, complete with haversack, being taken by train to Nelson to be evacuated, which I didn鈥檛 realise was happening, we weren鈥檛 told.
From the station in Nelson we were put in cars, a lady put her head in the window and chose me. I said my Mum had told my sister and I to stick together, so I told her, so we both stayed with her.
I attended St. Phillip鈥檚 School on Leeds Road in Nelson. Mr & Mrs. Hill, who we stayed with were kind to us, but we heard of tales of abuse and cruelty. Our parents came to see us every week, then one time they said would you like to come home. We were soon on the train home after packing a few things.
We had moved to another house with a bathroom in what was a posher area of Bradford Moor, Bradford.
Quite a lot of Schools closed at the beginning of the war, so my parents volunteered for children to have lessons in our front room along with others doing the same. My sister and friends and I made artificial flowers, and sold them for the war effort.
I went to dancing class, we put shows on at local venues, again for the war effort.
It wasn`t all doom and gloom, when the sirens went quite a lot of neighbours came into our house. My Dad played piano, we had a violinist and an accordion player.
Our cellar was strengthened and a door put through to next door.
When we had the Bradford bombing, we had a bomb four doors away and our windows were blown out. I was terrified, when the all clear went my Dad took us to a viewpoint where we could see all the fires in the centre of Bradford. It was quite exciting.
I was nine years old when war started.

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