大象传媒

...The Youth Centre was just what we needed and as I have said was very well run. I learned to dance there and also I became quite a good table tennis player.

Some boys joined the Army Cadets but our father would not let Charlie and I join. He was a territorial at the start of the World War 1 and was in France at the age of 17 under fire.

My brother became a Civil Defence Messenger and was given a uniform. He reported one night each week to Failsworth town hall and slept the night there.

Everyone listened to the wireless a lot. When we were younger my brother and I never missed the children鈥檚 hour at
5.p.m. and there was some very good variety programmes which we all enjoyed as we sat round the fire. Henry Hall鈥檚 guest night was one, and I liked Happydrome. We had to be very quite when the nine 9.p.m. news came on. .Dad would be shushing us at the slightest noise.
Gradually the news got better and the allies started to have significant successes. I was a paper boy for Mr. Scholes on Eastwood Road and would read the morning head lines as I delivered the papers. I can distinctly remember reading the news of the Dam buster Raid..

There were also failures and one of our neighbours; a young officer in the Airborne Division was killed at Arnhem. He left a lovely young wife and two beautiful children

Charlie, My brother could not wait until he was old enough to be called up. He had set his heart on joining the navy. However when his call up came his number had been drawn out in the Bevin Scheme and he was sent to be a coal miner (known as Bevin Boys), He was heart broken and he and his friend were forever going to Manchester to try to join the Merchant Navy, but once they found out that they were Bevin Boys they were always turned down.
He was sent to Astley Green pit in Astley and lived in a hostel there. Eventually he was moved to Moston pit, but he never liked the job. Some people were under the impression that Bevin Boys had volunteered to go down the pits. Some did, but most had no choice and were very upset that they were not in the forces.

When it was clear that the war would soon be over a committee of local people was set up to organise a Victory celebration. Our father was on the committee along with Mr. Hughes who lived on Eastwood Road and several other neighbours.

It was decided to collect 6d. (2 1/2p) per week from each household to pay for a party, and I and my brother and friends called at all the houses on Eastwood Road and Eastwood Avenue each Friday night to collect this. We took the money to Mr. Prince who gave us notes for the change, which we then passed on to Mr. Hughes who was the treasurer.

Shortly before the war ended and when victory was certain, the troops in Germany had a ballot scheme for those who had not been home for a long time. The lucky ones came back to England for a short leave. I remember in particular one young man who lived I think on Evening Street, Failsworth, calling to see my Father who in the past had taught him to play the flute. He became very interested in music and progressed to the clarionet and saxophone prior to being called up into the army. He had managed to get one of these short leaves and I remember him telling my Father that he was dreading going back to the front because of the huge casualties they were suffering. He was hoping that the war would be over before he got back. His hopes were in vain. He went back and was killed in the last weeks of the war.

On V.E.Day (Victory In Europe) My friend Clifford Hopkinson who lived in Parkfield Road, and I called at Scholes鈥檚 shop and bought dozens of 1/2p demon fireworks. I believe Mr Scholes had kept these under the bed all through the war much to the horror of Mrs Scholes.
We had a great time setting these bangers off all the way to school and on arrival there, the staff let us set some off in the quadrangle whilst all the boys looked on. Later they sent us all home for a holiday.

Late on V.E. night my friends and I made our way to Hollinwood where the area of Oldham Road, opposite Hollinwood Ferranti鈥檚 was packed with thousands of people. Ferranti鈥檚 was all illuminated and this served as a focal point for everybody. People stood shoulder to shoulder dancing and kissing each other. Some were throwing fireworks into the crowd, but everyone laughed and took it in good part. I have never seen people so happy.

Our Victory Party was a great success tables were laid in Eastwood Avenue and all the young children were given a lovely party.
Most of the houses were decorated with Union Jacks and bunting and some houses had fairy lights hung out in the evening.
In the morning my friends and I were sent to Newton Heath to an ice cream makers to buy a large container of ice cream for the party. We pushed it all the way back on a truck, stopping now and again to try it. It was lovely.
In the evening Mr Kirkham who lived at 17 Eastwood Avenue brought his radiogram out in front of his house and played records for dancing. All the adults joined in.

Mr. Jackson who lived at the big house opposite the shops in Eastwood Road was giving us boys cigars and he was dancing with Mrs. Holland who was the oldest resident. She was dressed in old fashioned clothes. It was a memorable day.

Soon we began seeing houses with bunting round the doors and posters saying 鈥淲elcome Home鈥� as soldiers, sailors and airman returned from the war. I particularly remember Mr. Lockett, our local postman coming home. He lived at 23, Eastwood Road.

Then came V.J. Day, (Victory In Japan). We celebrated this by having a large bonfire on Mr. Jackson鈥檚 field, where the scout hut was situated. This was to the rear of the old folks home, now on Eastwood Road.
Mr. Harry Fozzard the local property repairer found us plenty of wood plus some old ladders to burn.

In the afternoon we held a sports day with races of all kinds for young and old. The walking race was fiercely contended by one or two of the older people. Great amusement was caused when the first to the post was disqualified for running. It was a grand day rounded off by the bonfire and fireworks.

Looking back, apart from the obvious tragedy of war, it was quite an experience to have lived through. There was an air of friendliness everywhere. It was as though people were drawn together in a common cause, so we made the best of it.

The war was a boon to most families on the home front. There was plenty of work to do with lots of overtime. Full employment in fact. More ladies began working and all the extra money put them on a good standing for when the war was over. Ironically the men in the forces were on about 14 /- shillings per week or 70 new pence.

Bryan Shaw 1993

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.