大象传媒

As a 14 year old in Sheffield, I lived with my mother following her marriage break up.

It was December1940, although we were at war it hadn't yet sunk in> I think it was nicknamed the Phoney war, sirens would sound and nothing happened we carried on oblvious to the horrors that was to come. I became a film buff going to the cinema every oportunity. staying to see the films around twice which was possible in those days.

I was excited about going to see Judy Garland in Wizard of OZ and had made up my mind to see it through twice, after the first show the sirens went and an announcement said an air raid is imminent but people wishing to stay may do so.

When the show had finally finished I made my way home about a mile the streets were in total darkness it was so erie a smell of smoke and fire pervaded the air, I don't remember being frightened, but when I reached my road it had taken a direct hit, my house was no more absolutly flattened.but the houses on either side were still intact. My mother was no where to be found I heard later that she had been taken to hospital. I was 8(eight)years before I was reunited with her. The authorities took me into care and I was evacuated to a farm in Wetherby Yorkshire where i stayed very happily until 1943 when I joined the ATS.

Many years later in 2001 I took a nostalgic journey back to Sheffield to find my house had been rebuilt and the bricks must have been reclaimed because they mached perfectly there was no evidence of any damage.

I now watch Wizard of Qz with a lump in my throat. If I had not stayed to see it twice I may not be here now.

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