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Lilian returned from evacuation when the Blitz finished and at the age of 14 started work in a Blitzed factory — it had no roof so they worked under umbrellas. It had no heating in the winter, except a paraffin stove.

The family lived on the top floor of a three storey building in Lambeth (near ‘The Walk’). Early morning during a ‘Doodle Bug’ raid they jumped out of bed (sleeping in one room) and her mother said, “This one’s coming for us.”

Correct — a direct hit — the property was demolished — her parents standing beside her — killed. Herself buried in the rubble for three days. Found only out of a “body check” — injuries to the head allowed blood to seep into her mouth, otherwise she said she would have choked.

Retrieved and taken to St. Thomas’ Hospital. The hospital was bombed that night — beds pushed out side before that wing was destroyed.

After a few weeks of recovery, she asked where her mother and father where and was casually told “Oh — they bought it!!” — and walked away. (Later traced to a mass grave at Tooting Cemetery.

On discharge from hospital after six months — she still had bandaged head injuries (not mentioned very deep body scars). No clothes, no money, nowhere to go. She was given 10/- and a railway warrant to take her to war work in Sussex.

She looked ‘a sight’, with clothes they could only find a dress suitable for a person of 50 — she was 16! She had to make do with two odd shoes (no pair available). Spent 7/6 of her 10/- on ‘Digs’ and workmates helped her with money until pay day but they could not help her with food and clothes as she had no ration book — neither clothing coupons (underwear had to be washed each night, no soap and worn next day). On application to the Town Hall for these missing documents she was refused them, since she did not have an Identity Card.

She always reckoned that the people at the Hall did not know “there was a war on!”
Eventually (four days) a pink slip in place of an Identity Card from Somerset House and a ration book and clothes coupon were obtained. So for four days she could not buy food and only had the clothes she stood up in.

How did she survive? By going round the dustbins of local Hotels and finding food that was thrown away!! She did receive a small (10%) war pension. Compare the story with today’s ‘counselling’ she died at 63 — the war injuries affecting her in late life.

Story told by her husband Bernard.

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