大象传媒

I REMEMBER CARRYING MY GAS MASK EVERYWHERE AND RACING TO THE AIR RAID SHELTERS AT SCHOOL DRILL.
I ALWAYS REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHER SAYING BE GOOD FOR YOU NEVER KNOW THE MINUTE GOD CALLS YOU.
IT MADE US ALL FEEL PROTECTIVE TOWARDS EACH OTHER. I THINK NOTHING WAS EVER WASTED AND PEOPLE HELPED EACH OTHER. I REMEMBER GOING WITH MY FATHER AND MY GRANDMOTHER TO THE VAULTS AT CLONARD MONASTERY AND PRAYING FOR EVERYONE鈥橲 SAFETY. I STOOD AT THE CORNER OF ALMA STREET ON THE FALLS ROAD WATCHING LORRIES DRIVE UP AND BODIES COVERED IN SHEETS BEING CARRIED INTO THE FALLS BATHS. WHAT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE PLANKS OF WOOD FALLING WAS ACTUALLY THE DEBRIS OF HOUSES IN PERCY STREET AND DOVER STREET WHEN THE BOMBS DROPPED.
I WAS NINE YEARS OLD WHEN THAT RAID HAPPENED. I RECALL FOOD RATIONING, CLOTHING COUPONS AND COUPONS FOR SWEETS WHICH DID NOT BOTHER ME AS I NEVER HAD THE MONEY FOR SWEETS ANYWAY. MY YOUNGEST BROTHER WAS BORN IN THE ROYAL MATERNITY HOSPITAL ON THE SIXTH OF APRIL 1941. THERE WERE MANY BOMBS DROPPED ON THAT DATE. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED.
LATER ON OUR FAMILY WAS EVACUATED TO DUNLOY. I WAS THE ELDEST OF SIX CHILDREN, SO AT NINE YEARS OF AGE, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS AND SISTER WHO WERE WITH ME. MY MOTHER WAS AT HOME WITH A NEW BABY. MY FATHER WAS AT WORK AT THE WORKSHOP FOR THE BLIND ON LAWNBROOK AVE. WE STAYED WITH MY MOTHER鈥橲 RELATIVES WHO DIDN鈥橳 REALLY WANT US, AND WE, AS CHILDREN SENSED THIS. THE SCHOOL WE WENT TO WAS JUST ONE BIG ROOM, AND ALL AGES WERE TAUGHT THERE. I LOVED IT. I USED TO STEAL MY GREAT AUNT鈥橲 TURF FOR THE SCHOOL FIRE. WE PLAYED IN A FIELD BESIDE THE SCHOOL AND THERE WERE TWO GOATS IN IT. WE DIDN鈥橳 REALISE THE DANGER AND JUST RAN AWAY WHEN THEY CHASED US. I COULD SAY THESE WERE THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF OUR CHILDHOOD, FOR WE WERE BLISSFULLY UNAWARE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF WAR.

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