大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the site by the 大象传媒's Peoples War Team in the East Midlands with Brian Whittakers permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions"

I was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire in December 1939 and I have three vivid memories relating to the Second World War.

I was probably about two or younger and I distinctly remember waking up when the siren whirred away and standing up in my cot waiting for my mother to pick me up and take me down the air raid shelter with the rest of the family. I also remember listening in the dim lights for the 鈥榓ll clear鈥� before returning back to the house and to bed. To this day the sound of an air raid siren still fills me with concern.

My second memory was that at the top of Ellesmere Road in Pitsmoor, Sheffield was a flight of steps down to the road below and the Church institute. At the top of the steps on the grass verge to the left to my surprise was an enormous searchlight manned with two men. I had never seen this before. However, the next time I looked for the big light, the men with their 鈥榖ig torch鈥� had gone and were never seen again.

My third memory was after the 鈥榓ll clear鈥�, being taken in the arms of my father to the end of the road where Mrs Spendlows (Mrs Spencers?) sweet shop was and from there being able to look from a height across Smiths fields to the steel works beyond and seeing the fires burning. My Dad said 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 look too bad tonight鈥� and with that he carried me home.

My Father was in a reserved occupation as a fireman on the railway and told many tales of his war years experiences from being strafed by enemy aircraft; carrying troops and good trains full of ammunition. He always seemed to work at night and was away from many long hours.

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