- Contributed by听
- Wirral Libraries
- People in story:听
- George Biddiscombe, Wally Wallace, Leon Norris,
- Location of story:听
- 49 Egerton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool.
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A4667088
- Contributed on:听
- 02 August 2005
In May 1944 two evacuee sisters, from Harrow in Middlesex, Mary and Sheila Reynolds came up to Liverpool because of the V1 and V2 rockets. They stayed for about 6 months with us.Mary was 14 years old and Sheila was 9.My Mother and Grandmother received extra rations to look after them. They were with us for about 6 months.
A few weeks later my Grandmother was contacted to ask if she could accommodate 4 Airman.These were transport drivers - driving 60ft "Queen Mary" trailers which were able to carry the fuselage of Spitfire or Hurricanes. My Grandmother was a bit worried at first but agreed as again it meant more rations.
The Airmen when they arrived were:-
George Biddiscombe from Bridgewater, Wally Wallace from Urmston, Manchester, Leon Norris from the Isle of Man and Maurice Brown from Doncaster.
On one occasion they drove up to the house in the "Queen Mary" for a quick cup of tea. On the Trailer was a Spitfire with its wings folded! This created great excitement with all the children in the road who were soon climbing all over it.
I became very close to "Uncle George" who would frequently take me into Sefton Park for an ice cream - just coming back after the war! Sefton Park was used as a storage depot for hundreds military vehicles.
In 1946 I contracted Scarlet Fever and "Uncle George" invited me to stay with him and his wife Stella in Bridgewater. On the way down, a very long drive in those days, it took about 9 hours, at one stage we stopped by a local farm to show me men working in the fields . He explained that these were German P.O.Ws, identified by a white patch on the centre of their back and on one of their legs.This was in case they tried to escape the white mark would be an aiming point for their guards to shoot at.
I kept in touch with George for many years until his death, but I am still in contact with his wife Stella.
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