91热爆

As a young child born 1937 (within the sound of 鈥楤ow bells鈥�) I was a confirmed spectator rather than a worried victim of WW2. In my innocence it was an exciting time and so recall it quite clearly even after 66 years. ( Still have my under 16 registration I.D. Card stamped 43.)
The year of 37 was memorable for the following ( much of which may never had happened had the war started in 37).
World鈥檚 first blood bank in Chicago, ( thought I might need it diving between bombs!)
George VI crowned, N. Chamberlain became Prime-Minister, Edward VIII married Simpson, 999 call came into use, ( perhaps ready for my arrival! ) . Ireland named Eire, 1st Pacific passenger flight by Pan-Am, D. Breidman scored 270, L. Hutton鈥檚 cricket debut, J. Lewis K.O. d. J. Braddock for heavyweight crown, D. Budge won Wimbledon, C. Chaplains 鈥楾alking鈥� modern times released, J.R. Tolkien鈥檚 鈥淗obbit鈥� released, 1st sound, colour, cartoon feature, 鈥淪now White鈥� released. E. Hemmingway鈥檚 鈥� To have and to hold published. Celebes born; S. Bassey, J. Spears, D. Everly, T. Courtney, M. Haggard, W. Beatly, F. Valli, M. Freeman, C. Powell, and his pal no other than Saddam Hussein, then there was little me. To mention but a few.

My family of three persons were bombed out (fortunately for us, next door got the direct hit.)
From above the still existing Algerian coffee shop ( the proprietor Paul, only 2nd generation to occupy the premises ) located at number 52 Old Compton Street, London W1.

As victims of the 40鈥檚 鈥楤litz鈥� I was evacuated along with my gas-mask to Welwyn Garden City while my parents settled in Chiswick ( Bedford Park Area). To which William Joyce known has 鈥� Lord Haw Haw鈥� was familiar with, and to which he frequently alluded to in his propaganda broadcasts during the war. In one broadcast he referred to the locals as 鈥� You parasites of Bedford Park鈥�.

My stay in Soho was short lived- one might say- but long and impressive enough for me to remember a few matters despite being only about 3 years old.. For instance I remember spending much of the time under the kitchen table playing with a Hornby train set. A great luxury toy in those day鈥檚. Looking out of the first floor window and my mum screaming at me as I strained to see a chef in his 20inch high starched whit hat for the first time.

Then when the air-raid warning sounded my mum gathered me in her arms and scurried off to the Underground Station or Cross and Blackwell air-raid shelter in Soho Square. I even recall watching a V2 rocket or 鈥淒oodle 鈥� Bug鈥� crossing above London- But I don鈥檛 recall the terrible noise of the explosion, it must have made a landing. That鈥檚 just about all I can remember of my short war time period in Central London.

Now my memories take me to evacuation and my short stay ( because I was unhappy in Welwyn Garden City.) I recall a cottage, long garden backing onto the main line from London and just looking for the trains that would bring my mum and dad who was harbouring in the army as a conscientious objector, to come and take me back to Chiswick. Coloured plastic footballs were another luxury toy in those days and I also remember playing in a field that was adjoining the Shredded Wheat factory. ( It still features on the cereal box today I believe), and the ball rolling down an incendiary bomb crater that was full of muddy water. Coaxed by my playmate I retrieved it along with a leg and pants full of thick mud that was hosed off when I returned to the cottage. At this point I remember little else of any consequence and memories now return to Chiswick where I returned for the rest of the war and until I was called up for National Service.

I lived at No. 62 Abinger Road- the address on my I.D. and at this period of the war years I recall I was quite ill with infection after infection, but my mother did a wonderful job with medical help and saved my life on more than one occasion. However I do vividly recall between one bout of infection and another the 鈥楻oman Candles鈥� the Germans dropped to light up areas for bombing. I was so fascinated that my mum had to pull me away from the window. It was during one window gazing session ( I was still too ill to go out) that I saw and heard the low drone of a 鈥楧oodle Bug鈥� again and this time I heard it鈥檚 blast as it hit the Polytechnic at the top of Abinger Road. When I had finally recovered enough to go out and join my friends I visited the devastation of the Poly and came home with a 鈥� live incendiary鈥� bomb under my jacket! Mum called the ARP who sorted me out for that and for throwing stones at the few remaining glass panes of nearby houses.

This story was submitted to the 91热爆 world wide Peoples War Site by Rod Aldwinckle on behalf of N.J. Christofarou. And with her permission. The author fully understands the terms and conditions of the site. The memories of this lady may have some factual inaccuracies but the story is about the real memories of this person and with this provision has entered the story onto site.

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