大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Teresa Parsons and had been added to the website on behalf of Sylvia Smith with her permission and she fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Although I was only a little girl when the war was in full swing, I can remember clearly the sadness and heartache that descended across our street when the news came that Shirley Nettlingham's dad, a soldier, was in a Japanese POW camp. He died shortly after his return to Swanscombe due to his horrific experience.
If I was on my little bike when the sirens sounded I had to throw it down and race up the alley to the back of our fish and chip shop, which was owned by my parents, Dolly and Charlie Loveridge. I had to dive into the shelter, where my family were packing as many people into it as possible. if the shop was full of customers it was a big squeeze. It was always very dank down there.
Because my dad was the ambulance driver for the ARP (Air raid precutions) he was never there in our mum's bed, so us kids were delighted to be able to sleep with her! Whenever he was needed someone had to run to the 'Alma' pub and get him. At every raid the balst would shatter the great big front glass windows of the shop. We were petrified of the sound of smashing glass. But as my dad ferried the dead bodies to the mortuary and the injured to the hospital, he blew the hooter of the ambulance to let my mum know he was safe.
Food rationing made it very hard for everyone. But because my dad drove in and out of Billingsgate Markey getting boxes of fish for the shop, he ahd acces to the black market which was rife in the city. WE still had chocolate, bananas and weetabix that were not available in the shops.
There was a German POW camp in Swanscombe Street and local women worked there as cooks and cleaners. What I remember most was watching thse men being marched through the High Street, smart men in perfect step, wearing heavy boots, going to the Catholic Church on a Sunday morning and being marched back two hours later. I was really intrigued as to why these big soliders had such blonde hair.
Although Swanscombe had its share of bombing, most people will remember when the "Morning Star" pub in Church Road suffered a direct hit. Most families were affected in some way. I can remember when my dad went to pieces after helping to dig out the victims and then having to drive his drinking mates to the mortuary.
It semed to be a very long time before he could smile or play with us again. Mum said it's because he's hurting really bad inside. For weeks he found comfort in the bottom of a pint glass.

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