大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Ellen Batten and has been added to the site with her permission. Ellen Batten fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

'My Mum was five when the war started and recounted this memory to me.

Growing up on the Wirral, she could see the sky light up across the water from Birkenhead when there were bombing raids over Liverpool. She could also hear the dog fights above Liverpool. She still remembers with tears having to shelter all night under the stairs. I wonder if this has contributed to her aversion to small spaces and claustrophobia as an adult.

Mum tells me that she consoled herself and kept the edge off her fear by sticking verse cards and pictures from Sunday School on the walls under the stairs. When the raids were particularly bad, she found great comfort in the picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This gave her confidence that He was watching over her and her family.

As I leafed through her Bible recently, I found a small passport photo of her father in an RAF greatcoat and fur hat standing on a snowy lakeshore in Canada. He was stationed there in the second half of the war to train pilots. I felt moved to see the words, "To Betty, lots of love Daddy" on the back. I thought how her prayers were answered as thankfully he did come home safely.

Today in a world still ravaged by war and human rights abuse, many question the existence of God. However, I have come to share my mother's quiet faith. Faith turned to constructive prayer and action, faith placed in a God of love and compassion surely can give strength in dark times.'

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