大象传媒

World War ll, effects on family life. My father was at home in a reserved occupation in local government and civil defence. A bit scared during some air raids.
1942 - Jan/Feb. Mother, brohter, sister and self ill with whooping couch. Felt low all spring. Had week's farm holiday in August, which set us up again. Parents under pressure (unknown to us kids. Mother had nervous breakdown after war (1946).

'Waste not Want not'. 'Make do and Mend'. A must then, still observed today - deeply ingrained in our minds. No metal (new) toys from 1942. Only second ahnd Meccano set and a train set. Made own toys from wood, card and paper. I helped parents make Dolls House for sister for Christams 1943 using cardboard and paper.

I remember dried egg packets, and dried milk tins on the kitchen shelf. We grew our own fruit and veg (did not dig up lawn, garden, good size). Never saw bananas and ice cream, and only rarely oranges and lemons.

In front of the house window, number of occupants, indicated, five - two adults and three children - coloured labels 3/2 of different colours for denotation.

School uniform, 1943 onwards. Normal purple material often unavailble. Had to wear pale grey jacket, short trousers and cap with purple badge on cap and breast pocket.

Made a little butter from milk delivered , by shaking it in sealed jars a long time!
In Spring 1944. My mother and four year old brother were in back garden, when a German plane came over very low firing machine guns. They were unhurt. My brother's earliest war time memories (b. Oct 1939).

I was scared once that we would be find 拢2 for showing a light before putting blackout in place.

We saw part of Mulberry Harbour under construction at Wivenhoe in April 1944, as we passed on a train.

We did not go out much at night. No street lights. Street furniture had white bands painted around them to make them visible to pedestrians at night. Road junctions indicated by white lines and white t or t painted on road surface. On main roads, some street lights back on in winter of 1944/5 but dim.

Also in Colchester, buses had very dim lights. Conductor had movable spot light to help him count correct change, and give night tickets.

In school playground, an emergency brick oven was built, at the corner.

Across road from house, an emergency fresh water tower was built using 3/4 ft diameter drainage (concrete) pipes set up near the base, attatched by A.R.P. The water tower was about eight foot high at a guess.

Reproduced by Ipswich Museum with Mr K.H.Brown's permission.

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