大象传媒

大象传媒 Peoples War Shirley Beckwith (DOB 06/10/1935) Fulham London

The First Sunday in September 1939 was so busy for us I remember my mum packing cases and dressing my baby brother, bundling us in my Grandad鈥檚 Standard 8 car, he was going to drive us to Cherry Hinton to live with Auntie Emm 鈥� as we got to Walham Green we heard a weird whineing sound we would hear many times over the next 5 years 鈥� The air raid warning.

We lived with Auntie Emm and Uncle Sid for a few weeks and then we moved to a flat over the local fish shop I didn鈥檛 like it very much because we smelt funny all the time! Thing鈥檚 were very quiet in London so we all went home. When the bombing did start we packed off to Uncle Fred鈥檚 鈥� he lived in Hitchen, we didn鈥檛 stay there very long either we moved back to Fulham 鈥� we stayed home for most of the war.

Our family were very lucky, we lived most of our lives with Nan and Grandad, he was a greengrocer and our house was large with a big yard and stables for Grandad鈥檚 horses and cart. We never went without anything really we had chickens in the yard, eggs in abundance and many rabbits and of course plenty of vegetables and fruit.

Outside our house was a large air raid shelter 鈥� Nan was in charge of it so when the beds were made up - some bunk beds made much more comfy with our own mattresses, pillows and bright cushions lamp shades and pictures, it was quite exciting for us children really. We were together with our mates most of the time.

I remember the guns being driven down our street. They made such a noise and even one had a name. Huge barrage balloons were in the sky. We lived by Fulham gas works and as children we would stand on the corner of the street by the Salvation Army to watch for a flag to be raised when the air raid warning was to be set off, we would run shouting 鈥� their coming, their coming鈥� I even saw a 鈥榙og fight鈥� once with Spitfire鈥檚 and German planes attacking one another with lots of lines across the sky.

I remember once I was in bed asleep in the house when my mum suddenly jumped on top of me and my brother, bombs were dropping and we should have been in the shelter so we were wrapped in blankets and rushed down stairs.

After air raids we always went looking for shrapnel 鈥� pieces of exploded bombs some bits we kept for years after. I also remember strips of silver and black paper being dropped once - I think it was to disrupt radar. We were told not to touch it as it was poisonous!

In 1944 the V2 bombs started, you could not hear them as you could the doodlebugs which made such a noise I remember seeing them whistling across the sky with flames coming from the back, when the sound stopped the bomb went straight down and exploded. V2鈥檚 were different, not a sound, then devastation. That was when mum decided we really had to be evacuated.

All plans where made, my brother Alan and I were to go to safety. We were taken to a local school there we were put on buses to 鈥� we did not know where. I remember sitting on the bus crying like a baby and couldn鈥檛 take my eyes off my mum it was such a sad day.

I had been given my instructions that, whatever happened, Alan and I were not to be separated. After a whole day on a train we stopped at Penzance, I鈥檇 never heard of this place. We were taken away by buses 鈥� we were in the middle of beautiful countryside 鈥� I remember a most wonderful view of a church and a village in the valley - that picture has stayed in my mind ever since.

We arrived at St Just in Penwith and went to the most picturesque school where we were given warm milk and a huge saffron bun. Most of the children had been allocated out, Alan and I were taken to a house and were met by a tall elderly lady who was quite willing to take me but would not take Alan because she lived with her 5 sisters and would not have a male in the house 鈥� it was our lucky day. Taken back to the school again we were the last two evacuees left, we must have looked pathetic, tired and bewildered, my little brother in his little overcoat and cap and me in my winter coat and velour hat, our labels, attach茅 cases and gas masks.

The local baker took us to his house, it was very warm and cosy with a black leaded fire, they gave us tea and biscuits when we arrived.

Lily and Leslie Costigan and their three children took us in 鈥� the most wonderful couple one could meet, we spent the last eleven months of the war with them 鈥� the happiest days of my childhood.

Memorable sweets in paper bags, nights making Christmas cards in front of that fire, the smell of huge oil lamps burning. Making presents and singing songs, having concerts and playing wonderful games. For my birthday I was able to invite friends for tea, I had a birthday cake and we made homemade doughnuts 鈥� a war was on and where we were it was heaven. All my happiest childhood memories are there.

At the end of May 1945 the war was over and my mum was coming to fetch us and take us home. It was strange really, no more packing sandwiches and orange juice from a little bottle with a blue top. Taking our swim suits wrapped in a towel and all five children and Aunty Lily singing walking up and down rocky lanes, 鈥淵ou push the damper in an you push the damper out and the smoke goes up the chimney just the same.鈥�

Such happy day鈥檚 - Ours was a lovely war.

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