大象传媒

My parent lived in London for Twenty Years from the 1920's to 1941. They lived in various areas including Cricklewood, and other area of Central London. They both went there from Wales in order to get work during the 20's and 30's, not kowing each other at the time. My father was from Pontypridd and my mother from Ebbw Vale. They met in 1937, and married in Cricklewood in 1938.

They had various jobs including maintenance and factory work, working during the war munitions factories. They lived the lives of ordinary Londoners all going about their daily jobs. I heard their stories all durng my childhoold and learned all the all war songs at the same time.

They were "bombed out" three times. Each time moving on to a new address. We can only wonder at the courage that took. The last time it happened, my father was dug out fairly quickly, but my mother was buried for 24 hours. When they got her out, she had no clothes and no hair, but she was alive. She was tken to the First Aid post to get medical help, clothes, food even!. They were then given the option of alternative accommodation in London or - return to Wales. Wales won. With nothing left in the world except each other, they little choice. My father did go back to the site of the old house and managed to rescue a clock. One dark green alarm clock. All they had left in the world. My mothers jewellery including her engagement rings had all, of course, been in the house.

Their stories of the war were at times horrific. The time when a school next to the factory my mother was working in at the time, had been bombed. All the children had been killed and had to be got out of the remains of the building. Many times they had sat in air raids, in the bomb shelters, not knowing if they would see daylight again.

One of my mother;s expression was - "You never knew who was sitting next to you, politician or millionaire. We were all the same down there. My mother had acted as midwife and also learnt, the hard way, how to "lay out" bodies." Not much time for nicities, I would have thought.

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