大象传媒

My earliest memory is when I was 4 years old I was walking along the road holding my father's hand. He was in uniform and I was very proud when other soldiers passed and saluted him. He took me to a toyshop and bought me a Mickey Mouse book.
He had a rifle in the corner of our front room behind the settee. My sister and I were given strict instructions not to touch it.

One night the sirens sounded. I went with my mother, little sister and auntie downstairs to sit in the pantry that was under the stairs. My sister cried, she wanted her 'potty' and we left her in the middle of the room sitting on it, we could hear bombs falling somewhere near.

One day at school we had a practice, much like the schools have fire drill today. We had to go to a house next to the school and a grill in front of the house was lifted. We all went down steps into a cellar. I have passed this house as an adult and just find it hard to believe we did it, as it looked so small.

American soldiers took over our local park and along with all the other children the familiar phrase was chanted "any gum chum?"

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