大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Durham Clayport Library on behalf of Eileen and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

I was about five years of age when the war started.
I remember my Dad joining the war as a Padre and when I first saw him in uniform, I was told later I asked if I could still call him Daddy.
My mother, sister and I went to live with my Grandparents in Leicester. This was a great upheaval 鈥� new place to live, very short of space, new school, sirens going continually but I don鈥檛 remember being unduly anxious.
My Grandparents had lived through the First World War. We had won that one-we could win this, they often said.
I remember my Gran experimenting with the rations i.e. mashed turnip with banana essence and cooking spam in several ways.
We listened to the radio all the time, not only to keep up with the news but also for our entertainment. The media was great for keeping the spirits up i.e Workers Playtime, Tommy Handley, Arthur Askey, Rob Wilton with his well known saying 鈥渢he day war broke out my missus said to me鈥︹��
I remember sleeping in a cupboard under the stairs for safety, with my sister, and I remember being issued with a gas mask, and having to carry it with me wherever I went.
I suppose school must have been continually disrupted, as I remember filing out of the classroom to the shelters and being taught there until the all clear sounded.
I also remember going to special parties because my Dad had been abroad for more than 3 years.
I also remember my sister becoming very ill with septicaemia and being saved because the consultant treated her with Penicillin, which should really have been used only for the armed forces.
Young as I was, I remember the camaraderie which existed and the care and concern, especially towards children. The church played a large part in helping people to cope with their anxiety- just going to services helped to keep some sort of normality going and provided comfort.
Finally, when the War came to an end and my Dad arrived home at last I remember being hugged by him and feeling the roughness of his trench coat. I promptly burst into tears

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