大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Claire White of 大象传媒 Scotland on behalf of James Wishart and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was born in 1933 so I was 6 years old when war broke out in 1939. I remember being taken to the underground shelters which were built for Glasgow's inhabitants. It was usually at night that we were taken the 5-600 yards from our house to the shelter. I remember seeing searchlights sweeping the night sky and anti-aircraft guns going off.

I lived in a tenement and some fathers wouldn't get out of their beds during an air raid. My father was one of them. But my mother, brother and I would go outside. My mother eventually became concerned for my safety and I went to stay with an aunt and uncle in Killin. My uncle was a lumberjack.

During the day we'd scour the streets for bits of shrapnel which were our wartime 'souvenirs'. I'd compare my finds with classmates and friends at school.

We seldom had eggs in the city, and I never saw a banana during the war. Sweets were on ration but sometimes shopkeepers would let you use your advance coupons and you'd end up having none left!

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