大象传媒

I was born 1935 in Bond Street and lived in Avon St. Highfields.
When the sirens sounded we went across the road to Morris鈥檚 Shop and went into the cellar while the raid was on. If they had ever dropped a bomb on the shop, we would never have got out of it. So were shelters really safe and valid place of refuge.
As I walked along the road near Tichborne street area, I remember seeing the after effects of a recent bombing raid. A three story house was so open that I could see all the fireplaces on each level, and worst of all, I could see pieces of soldiers, their limbs and cloths amongst the debris and in the fireplaces.
Victoria Park at the top of London Road adjacent to Tichborne Street was a rallying point for soldiers returning from Dunkirk and also an American Airborne drill and rally point. The bombs, although they had bombed several main points in this area, had completely missed the Synagogue that was situated on the corner of Tichborne Street.

One night an American Airman stayed with us overnight when we lived at 12 Avon Street and I always remember him and his Harley Davidson Motorbike.

When the war finished I remember me obtaining my first banana, I did not know what to do with it. Peel it first, or with the peel / skin on.
When I was about 8 years old I remember my mum allowing me to sleep right through an air raid. If your gonna catch it, your gonna catch it, you may as well be asleep. I say this of course with a retrospective smile on my face. Happy to have survived.

This story was submitted to the 鈥淧eoples War Site by Rod Aldwinckle of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of Brian Lacey and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the

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