大象传媒

Explore the 大象传媒
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

大象传媒 Homepage
大象传媒 History
WW2 People's War Homepage Archive List Timeline About This Site

Contact Us

Enjoyment and Relief: Childhood Memories of Walthamstow

by ambervalley

Contributed by听
ambervalley
People in story:听
Ralph Wittamore, George Wittamore, Marie Wittamore
Location of story:听
Walthamstow, East London
Background to story:听
Civilian
Article ID:听
A2766198
Contributed on:听
21 June 2004

Apart from a short break for evacuation in Buckinghamshire, i lived with my parents George and Marie Wittamore in Walthamstow, East london.
During the War we had the radio and went to the pictures twice a week for entertainment, with our snacks if mum could find anything! We sometimes had to go into the cinema shelter if the siren went and we had to sit there until the all clear sounded, then the film would start again. Sometimes a one and a half hour film would take two and a half hours but i didn't mind, it was all an adventure! We played cards and board games alot. We used our imagination to think up games.
Nobody in our family was killed or wounded during the War. We thought dad had been killed once during an air raid on London. His shop was blown in and he, and the shop, landed on the tube line at Cannon street Station! Mum and i were worried because he had not come home at the usual time. he arrived home many hours later, coverd in white debris and suffering from shock but after a good wash and a meal he was alright.
When the War finally ended it felt great not having to carry a gas mask around, no more blackouts and no more sirens. The mums in the street organised a very big street party. I still marvel to this day at how all the food suddenly appeared from nowhere. Nobody was sent to bed until they dropped.

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

Archive List

This story has been placed in the following categories.

Childhood and Evacuation Category
London Category
icon for Story with photoStory with photo

Most of the content on this site is created by our users, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the 大象传媒. The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. For any other comments, please Contact Us.



About the 大象传媒 | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy