大象传媒

Our family was mum and dad and five children. Dad was in the reserves and although in his fifties was called upon to man the airforce barrage balloons. Eldest brother was in the R.A.F. Eldest sister was working in a munitions factory. Next came my other sister whom was in the Wrens.That left Mum a brother and me the youngest at home. As we did not have a home shelter we would load an old pram with bedding and spend the night at the local school shelter. That is until someone spotted a rat,after this we got a Morrison shelter which was like a huge bed with mesh sides which took up most of the room it was in.
My brother and I were to be evacuated to Canada but a boat with children on board was sunk on it's way and so we did not go.
My grandmother died in a bombing on her house in Wimbledon.
Our days were spent playing in bombed houses and collecting shrapnel from around the area.
Later in the war I used to deliver newspapers and often a airaid would be taking place and I would take cover in doorways. As sweets were rationed we would mix up cocoa powder and sugar and dip our fingers in this mixture.
When the war started I was only 8 years so most of my childhood was during this time.I found it very scary when the bombs were falling and when the doodle bugs started you just prayed they would not stop and explode on you,if they kept going you would be safe. Children did have it tough in those days very little for christmas or birthdays and very few treats.

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