大象传媒

I was at school when the War broke out. We couldn鈥檛 go anywhere without gas masks, even the cinema. As the War went on, my brother and I were evacuated, all children had to go to a large village hall to be allocated to those who would care for us. My brother was sent to Llangollen. I was sent to Proger Farm in Lydiate where I was to spend my time with a nationalised German family, and a black retriever named Paddy whom during times of a blackout, seemed to disappear into the darkness, except for the reassuring touch of a tail or wet nose. My brother and I wouldn鈥檛 see each other till after the War.
On coming back to Liverpool, I stayed with my aunt and remember the clusters of sandbags outside of St Georges Hall, whilst school lessons were taught in willing people鈥檚 homes. Times were perhaps more innocent those days, I remember the curiosity an air-raid shelter sign entitled 鈥楬ow to Deliver a Baby鈥� held for me, whilst many a girl thought themselves pregnant at the simple touch of a man; a brush on the arm for me proved quite worrying.
People became quite brave till the Blitz when if not before, panic certainly hit home. I remember seeing guns patrolling the streets, air-raid wardens around Myrtle Street, the smell of burning and chemicals engulfing Bold Street, the brave firemen in attendance and sailors of various nationalities wandering the streets; much to many a girl鈥檚 pleasure. The visitation of those from 鈥榝oreign鈥� soil did make the world seem a much smaller place, whilst the Grafton and its Joe Loss proved to be a popular gathering place for such. Then being a young woman, I remember its fantastic atmosphere, a moments respite from uncertain times, an air of exhilaration and pleasure made that much more exciting through the presence of our foreign friends. Though not everyone found pleasure in each others company, and I do recollect the in fighting between black and white soldiers.
The War, for me, was a great time for music, singing and dancing. I鈥檇 listen to the radio; Perry Como, Arthur Askey, Glenn Miller and my favourite; Bing Crosby, I鈥檇 write song lyrics down. Friday nights certainly were Grafton nights for me, whilst dancing at Brighton鈥檚 Tower Ballroom beckoned at the weekend, I remember on one occasion witnessing the huge KG5 ship nearby with its outpouring of sailors. Even if there was a blackout we鈥檇 try to continue with our lives, just as the time I found myself in Boots the chemist buying medicine for my father late one night. On a night out, bus drivers also took up the heroic mantle, if with a bus full of passengers air-raid sirens sounded, it was up to them to steer us to safety. I even became a bus conductress; an occupation never associated with women before the War, though I did have to sign a document agreeing to surrender my job to a male counterpart after the War.
I remember going to the cinema during the War years, people would queue up for ages outside the picture houses, waiting to see their favourite stars like Laurel and Hardy, and Fred and Ginger. A lot of girls, including myself, would try and look like Judy Garland and Ginger Rogers, but times were hard, so we鈥檇 have to make do; I used to make earrings out of decorative buttons. Then one moonlit night my friend and I were walking home, I heard a whistle and 鈥渉ello girls.鈥� I turned to see two sailors, one of them was to be my husband: Peter. We went dancing and our song became 鈥業鈥檒l be Seeing You.鈥� He was stationed in Speke and when far away on the HMS Implacable, Peter would send me a letter everyday, which I'd sit behind a clock on the mantle piece.
I had to spend VE day without Peter, as he was in East Japan. Then one day fresh from Australia, where a Mr and Mrs Elliot had been caring for his War wounds, Peter came knocking on my door. Clutching flowers, perfume and talcum powder, he asked for my hand in marriage. Overjoyed, I accepted and we went onto have six children together.

'This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside鈥檚 People鈥檚 War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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