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By today’s standard we kids were all pretty well behaved. There was none of the contempt and total disregard of authority that seems rife today. Here the word authority meant effectively, anyone older, even by a couple of years, than oneself: the local Policeman (naturally), teachers, postman, any adult. It was fear! Not an unhealthy terror, No. That would have been, er - unhealthy! No, the anxiety of the miscreant centred on parents and especially 'Dad' finding out. Was he an ogre then? Were we beaten? No, none of this! The fear was, if you like, of letting the side down. Failing to live up to expectations: society’s expectations! Remember these were the days when unmarried mothers were openly vilified. Even banished from the family home in an almost Victorian gesture. Don't talk about V.D. Nobody did, except for anxious men in earnest, hushed, hysterical tones to their confidants. We kids had not an inkling of such things but we had a well founded understanding of our place and responsibilities in the scheme of things.

There was, in those days, a lever, a threat; a ‘Damoclesian’ sword that did for a while exercise our minds. The bombing caused huge anxiety to parents of young children and a scheme was devised to evacuate those who wished, to safer homes away from the centres of enemy attack. With the Dollis Hill Research Station just behind our home we kids were obviously well qualified to go and spend the rest of the war with an 'auntie and uncle' in the country. Gerry and I were appalled at the idea and the threat of ‘I’ll have you two evacuated’ had instant effect.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Raymond John Lawrence M.B.E and has been added to the site with his kind permission. Mr Lawrence fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Continue reading Mr Lawrence's story by clicking below:

• 1) At the beginning…
• 2) Life in the shelters
• 3) ‘Our Gang’
• 4) We barely made it
• 6) We had our fair share of attention from the Luftwaffe
• 7) The ‘Golden Couple’
• 8) An evening’s entertainment
• 9) The ‘Underpant’ Episode
• 10) Where did I fit in?
• 11) The School Song
• 12) I wonder…

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