- Contributed by听
- stanleyschool
- People in story:听
- Jean
- Location of story:听
- North East of England
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A7575898
- Contributed on:听
- 06 December 2005
We interviewed Jean a person who lived through world war two.
Jean had three miners in her family during the war. She would stay at home and help her mother around the house and would help to look after her baby sister Gloria. Even though Gloria was only a baby, she still had a gas mask which she had to lie in.
Jean can remeber that there were no vandals at all during the war, there was no cheek or bullying towards other people at this time. Everyone pulled together through times of nees and helped each other. Every one walked each other home after the co-op dance which Jean attended regularily.
The men of the family had the job of catching rabbits, which were free food in their eyes. They could also swap some chicken for a piece of pork, etc. Jean and her family had to live without butter.
All of the clubs and pubs in Jean's town had shelters of some sort in their basement, they were mostly just cellars.
In all of the time Jean lived during the war, she had never tasted a banana! And her mother had to make bread for the family!
Gas mask had to be tested, they would be tested by some one wearing them then stepping into a room. The gas would be switched on and if the mask wasn't leaking, then it worked. This would be the usual test to try out the gas masks.
While Jean was in the shelters she remembers that there was nothing to do. She can also remember that while in the shelters, they had to sleep head to toe.
The windows in Jean's house had to be blacked out, they used tape to secure the edges as a pin hole could let out alot of light. Their only light was a candle.
At the end of the war the American soldiers would send food and cigarettes to the pitmen, Jean still has a packet of dried eggs.
She just couldn't imagine any other life.
Thank you Jean
By Georgina Hooper And Demi Blue Hanratty
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