大象传媒

My earliest memory is of being fitted with my gas mask by my father, who was an air raid warden. Going to school carrying my gas mask and wearing an identity disc. My school (Mildenhall primary, North terrace, Mildenhall) was surrounded by sandbags. We would stand in the school playground and watch the RAF bombers returning from night raids full of holes, with pieces hanging off them, on their way back to RAF Mildenhall. Towards the end of the war we also saw American bombers taking off from RAF Lakenheath on daytime raids.

We had a large cellar under our house/shop at 3 Market Place, Mildenhall. When the air raid warning sounded we went down to the cellar which had beds etc; I remember a damp smell. Neighbours shared our cellar. One night the church bells rang when we were in the cellar - the signal that the Germans had invaded! I remeber the panic of the ladies - my mother, Mrs ball, Mrs Welham. Fortunately it was a false alarm - some RAF aircrew had been letting their hair down in the Tigers Head (who could blame them?).They got into the church and rang the bells.

I remember evacuees coming to our school and being good friends with some of them.

My parents ran a confectionary/stationary/ toy shop - I used to help count the sweet coupons at the end of each month, and take them to the food office in the market place. I remember being given a parcel evey so often, wrapped in newspaper, to take to our butcher, and he gave me annother to take home. I realise now it was probably cigarrettes for corned beef, shades of Dad's Army! My aunt Olive ran the village store in Barton Mills, My uncle Len was in the army - Pioneer Corps, and I used to help her weigh and measure the groceries, again coupons being counted at the end of each month.

The Americans arrived, handing out chewing gum and Hersheys chocolate to the children.

At the end of the war, on the recreational field, a large bonfire was lit by a procession with lighted torches, the people marching from the Ship Inn. A freind of mines' dad, Cyril, came home. He had been a prisoner of the Japanese! That was a sight I will never forget!

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