Submitted by Carol Dibben, Northwood & District u3a
I was 4 when war was declared, living in Bristol with my parents and elder sister, and have many vivid memories:
- As the youngest child in the road I was selected to be a 'casualty' at a training session and very frightened by having a yellow anti- burns paste plastered over my arms and legs, in a crowded room of adults.
- School did not start until 10 o/c so in the mornings my sister and I would go out and collect shrapnel pieces and put them into a large old fashion biscuit tin.
- It was fun in the playground swinging our Mickey Mouse gas mask cases at our friends.
- I was frightened when I heard that my father, a prominent Church leader in the city was on 'Hitlers list' if we were invaded.
- I was evacuated for 6 months whilst a brick shelter was built in our back garden but I was able to stay with my Grandparents in Derbyshire.
- Previously to this when the siren went off all the family huddled under the dining room table.
- With the shelter built I was carried, often half asleep, dressed in a 'siren suite' into the shelter which had a horrid dank smell I remember. There was a tiny electric fire, but it was cold.
- A landmine destroyed the Bishops Palace just behind our house one night, in the heavy blitz I was used to seeing blazing buildings.
- During a church service the siren sounded so the congregation moved into a back room for safety and I remember standing on a table and singing to the anxious people! I was not afraid during these years feeling safe in my family.