大象传媒

"This story was told to Pam MacLaren and submitted to the People's War site by Nona Dougherty of GMR Action Desk on behalf of Margaret from Timperley and has been added with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions."

It was August 1939 and I was 12 years old and I went with my Father and Mother to a new holiday camp at Prestatyn, North Wales. During our holiday on August 24th it was my Father's birthday and it was the custom at the holiday camp to make a big fuss of a birthday, so at the evening entertainment they called my Father up to the stage. He thought it was to wish him a happy birthday and shower him with balloons and streamers etc, but when he went up they handed him a telegram which ordered him to report to an RAF camp for war service, he was on the RAF reserve with the balloon barage unit, which had been formed to protect Manchester.

He had to pack up immediately and return. My Mother and I were left for the rest of the holiday by ourselves. I remember seeing him pack the trunk. I was very upset and crying as he packed his things - I imagined I might never see him again.

Mother and I were on our own for six years, only seeing him on his leaves. When the sirens went for an air raid, we had to get up and stay under the stairs as they were reinforced and considered a safe place to be if bombs were dropped near by.

I still have the telegram!

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