大象传媒

This story was submitted to the people鈥檚 war site Alan Gammon from Littlehampton Learning Centre and has been added to the website on behalf of Mary Bingham with his permission and he fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

MY VERY OWN DAD鈥橲 ARMY

I was seven years old when war broke out, Littlehampton was a restricted area and my father was a controller of the emergency services. He was a man that wore many hats. All through the war he wasn鈥檛 allowed to go out of Littlehampton. He was stationed at what is now the museum. Every night before he went on duty he always said, 鈥楪oodnight, God Bless, have a good night. A meaningful message to me!

We were never allowed to go onto the beach, a risk of danger from the mines. The promenade had barbed wire stretched along it. Toward the end of the war we were allowed to bathe in the river from what is now the Sailing Club. The Golf Club was also mined thus disallowing anyone to play Golf.

Bomber planes dumping their loads before returning to Germany bombed Littlehampton frequently. Hit and run raids were common in the early years of the war. The bombers flew in low across the sea, completed their objective and then home.

One of our saddest losses during the war was when the Manse was bombed killing the Minister, his wife and two WRAFS who was being entertained by them.

Where I lived my garden wall over looked the Flintstones Hall, The Home Guard used to meet there and I used to climb on the wall and watch them practicing their drill. Under Col Cowie who was their leader (Capt Mainwearing equvalent)

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