大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Kat Pearson a volunteer from CSV Action Desk on behalf of Mrs Sheila Wall and has been added to the site with her permission. Mrs Wall fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

Over a period of weeks there had been much radio talk about an imminent war with Germany, but as an almost 6 year old I obviously didn鈥檛 understand the implications. During August 1939 we went on holiday to the Gower coast in South Wales, where Lord Haugh Haugh dropped propaganda leaflets along the beach from planes. My brother excitedly collected them.

On our return to Moseley barrage balloons had been placed in the field opposite to our church St Agnes, and large concrete bollards all along the grass verges in Billesley Lane. Father explained there were to manoeuvre across the road should there be an attack or invasion.

The Sunday morning war was declared, my father took Brian and I on our usual Sunday walk to see Grannie in Kings Heath, while mother prepared lunch. I remember clinging to my father鈥檚 legs as we walked along Billesley Lane, terrified because I thought now war was declared, German soldiers would be hiding behind these blockades and shoot us. I arrived at Grannies in tears!

Our home was quite badly bombed on December 11th 1940. We slept about with various aunts for several weeks until my father found accommodation to rent. We were unable to return to our home until January 1947. As a child I was unaware of the trauma my parents went through.

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