大象传媒

When the war broke out during September 1939, I was a schoolgirl of twelve years of age, living with my parents aged thirty-seven and my sister of ten, and also my bother of almost two. We lived in Ashton Gate. I attended Luckwell Road Infant and Junior schools. Later I went to South Street Senior Girls School, in Bedminster.

Preparations for War

We spent a lot of time out of doors, playing in the street, on roller skates, with skipping ropes, balls, marbles and generals (cigarette cards). Ashton Park was within easy reach. This is where we were most likely to be found. We were given a season ticket as a birthday present, it cost 2/6d, this was equal to 12 陆 new pence. This enabled us to go to the swimming baths twice a day, if we wanted to. We could also go on Sundays. This was when Mr Harding the attendant, donned his Wellington boots on a Sunday morning, drained all the water from the pool, a brick built open air one, then scrubbed the bath with a hard brush. This was done just once a week and always caused great interest. Dean Lane baths was open throughout the year, and used for swimming. Immediately on the outset of war, as a safety measure the baths were closed. Dean Lane Baths had a glass roof. The Park baths were made into a static water tank. Though they sprung a leak after vandals had got into them to steal the sports gear, which had been left to provide equipment for the much publicised, Holidays at Home. This closure was great loss to us children, as they were never reopened.

Other precautions against air raids were made. All glass windows and doors had to be taped up to stop splintering; all curtains had to have linings, as no chink of light was allowed to show; car head lights were to be shielded, as were bicycle lights. Candles and torches were in great demand.

The summer of 1939 saw a lot of activity, parks and open spaces were dug up for allotments and underground shelters. During this time we were given our gas masks, and later, on our way home, we experienced a mock gas attack, within seconds we all had stinging eyes, burning throats, and were very frightened. Our garden had to contain an Anderson shelter. Dad made us a wooden frame unit of five bunks (dad never used his because as soon as the siren sounded, he was out on fire duty). He used wire mesh to hold the mattresses, but this proved very uncomfortable, as you could not sit up straight on the bottom bunk without your hair catching on it. One night I singed my hair on the candle and didn鈥檛 realise, until I started to smell the burning.

School Life and Dog Fights

Schools had been closed briefly, on the outset of war, and then after a few weeks they were reopened.

One dinner hour on returning to school, we stood and watched a dog-fight, an air battle, right over our heads. (This was Filton aerodrome raid with many casualties). The teacher was at the school gates shouting come on, hurry up. This meant a session in the under-ground shelter in the playground, having a dreaded spelling lesson.

Bombings and Fire Fighting

The first air raid happened on a Sunday evening in November 1940, starting at 6pm and lasting twelve hours before the all-clear siren sounded. Men and boys spent all that time fighting fires, and by the morning arrived home exhausted, filthy, and were covered in soot, and much older and wiser. It had been a terrifying long night for everyone. The whole of the city centre was on fire. My mother and I walked up Chessel Street, to see if my grandparents were safe and all the sky glowed red. The Clifton Suspension Bridge, silhouetted against it, was an unforgettable sight. The tiles on our roof were hanging off, and the outside toilet door had blown away, so a curtain had to suffice. The plaster on all the ceilings had fallen down. I remember crying because my mum would not help me pick up the pieces of a jig-saw puzzle that I had been working on.

Children Helped with Tasks

There was no gas or electricity and no water. Immediately the emergency services arrived, putting large tarpaulins on the roof and boarding up the windows, also a large tanker of water appeared.

One task that children took over was to fill buckets of sand and water, and put them outside of all the seventy eight houses in the street. Not as easy as it sounds as the layer of ice on top of the water had to be broken first. Another job, though not as popular, was to queue at the shops for anything not on the ration book; this may be several times a day as things were delivered.

Disruption to our School

During one air raid, one incendiary bomb fell on the roof of Luckwell School and the whole school burnt down because the ladders were too short to reach up to the roof. Also South Street School was badly damaged. This meant more time off of school whilst arrangements were made for us to share Southville School鈥檚 timetable.

Americans Arrive

Suddenly Bristol was invaded, but not by the enemy, but by the American Army. They came in their thousands. The senior officers were stationed in large houses in Clifton, and Ashton Court was turned into a massive army camp. Every tree was draped in camouflage nets, to hide a jeep, lorry or a tank. To young people they came as Father Christmases with pockets full of chocolates, sweets and gum. These items were scarce and rationed in the shops. As they finished duties in the evenings they went into the city, and lots of stories around them are still told. One day a general invitation came for a party to be held at Ashton Court. Lorries were touring the streets giving lifts to anyone who wished to go. I think it was the first time anyone had been into the grounds of Ashton Court. We were very impressed with the park and the house, but mostly the music and vast amount of food. Suddenly this wonderful supply of good things disappeared as quickly as they came; as the Americans were part of the invasion force and went on their way to Normandy.

Leaving School

During July 1941 at the age of 14, I had to leave school to start work at Wills Tobacco Factory. I found it very hard to accept the loss of freedom and the long hours. There were still daylight raids on Bristol. By this time my father was in the army and was away for four years.

At the age of 77 with six grandchildren, having lived all my life in Bristol and seen many changes, I still appreciate a new block of soap, hot water and a warm towel. Also I have always been an enthusiastic re-cycler (in those days we called it salvage).

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