大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War Site by Teresa Parsons and has been added to the website on behalf of John White with his permission and he fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

It was Sunday September 3rd 1939, I was 9 yrs old and as usual I had ben sent offf to the 10am service at St Anslem's RC Church, then in Spital Street, Dartford, together with my younger sister Sheila and young Mick. As usual the instructions were 'take them for a walk afterwards, stay out til dinner time'. We wandered off and at just after 11am we were outside the bus garage, then in priory Road, Dartford. There was a dreadful banshee wailing, the air raid siren was sounding, we stood looking lost, wondering what was happening. A bus driver rushed out of the garage 'What are you kids doing there?'. We were bundled into a little Austin 7 car and rushed home. Mother was looking out fro us and was quite distraught. She hurried us indoors and under the large dining room table. I remember hearing on the wireles Mr Chamberlain saying 'This country is now at war with Germany'. The all clear siren was sounding anad life continued but not quite as usual. Schools did not reopen fro some weeks, many school firends were evcauated but we stayed in dartford for the rest of the war.

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