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We had an Anderson Shelter, and one evening there was an air raid and my Father and Sister went out to the shelter first. Bear in mind that I would only be about six at the time, so it’s all a bit hazy; but My Mother and I were coming out after them.

We had to cross the lawn to get to the air raid shelter, and I was standing in the porch waiting to go across with my Mother, and all of a sudden a bright light lit up the whole area.

That’s what remains in my mind the most — that bright light. It was a German bomber, who’d just switched his lights on. The next thing we knew there was a noise like hail down the roof, and they were machine-gunning us! They’d switched their lights on, illuminating the whole area, and started shooting! I was just frightened by the lights — the machine gunning made no impression on me whatsoever at that age.

I remember running across the lawn to escape, and we were safe.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Peter Roberts and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Peter's stories:

• My Mother wouldn’t have that!
• Fire-Watching and other jobs
• That’s how it was done then
• Watching the prisoners
• Put them on show
• A much healthier option
• Make-shift weapons

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