On Sunday mornings, I would pester my Father to take me to "Perry Barr Park", to see the guns and the soldiers. The guns were in the park to protect I.M.I (Imperial Metal Industries) Kynoch Works, in Birmingham - one of the largest munition factories in the country.
This was the time of the 'Phoney War'. The German Bombers had not yet arrived. Sunday mornings was for the soldiers, a quiet time, when they would
chat with passers by. My Father having seen service in the 'Great War' enjoyed these visits as much as I did. He would discuss the anti-aircraft guns that had appeared almost overnight, sited in a small copse, complete with sandbags and tents. Very exciting for a seven-year-old boy.
I don't think they shot down many German Aircraft - but they stopped I.M.I. being severely
bombed.
The 'Guns' were a great source of Shrapnel!
Shrapnel collected after an air raid, would be swopped with other lads - you would find shrapnel on the ground, it smelt of 'cordite'. I had a little cigarette tin in which I kept my bits of shrapnel, and would then swop two for one larger bit. My prize was part of an anti-aircraft shell, found in our garden one morning.
A present from the Soldiers of Parry Barr Park !
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