On 31st March 1939 our Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, had made a promise to Poland - 'If Germany invades
you then Britain and France will help.' On Ist September 1939 Germany invaded Poland and on the 3rd September
we heard the stomach-churning words:-
'We are now at war' - hearing these terrifying words I ran into my bedroom and
burst into tears. I was 10 yrs. and 1 week old!
I knew what 'war' meant. Hadn't I heard all about my Uncle Tom who, in the First
World War, had been gassed by mustard gas, blinded for a while and then wounded?
Hadn't I heard how, after a time in hospital, my Uncle had been returned to the front
where he had then been blown to pieces? He had been in the Royal Marines but, as
soldiers were needed for the battlefront, he had been transferred, with others, to the
front line in France.
| Photo taken in 1917 of Uncle Tom and Aunt Rose, his fiancee, the lady he would have married had he not been killed in France in 1918 |  |
| Blythe Thomas. T. UK. Royal Naval Volunteer Unit: Hawke Bn.RN. Div Age 23. Killed 03/09/1918 COMMONWEALTH WAR DEAD Panel 1 and 2 VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL |
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War was cruel, it was pain, suffering, death and sorrow, and so I
sobbed.
'Dear me, what's all this about?' It was my Mother who had come into my bedroom.
'You are a big girl, and will have to look after your little brother, you can't cry.
You must be brave.'
No, I couldn't cry. I and my six year old brother were to be evacuated, and I had to
be strong and brave like everyone else.
At first my Mam and Dad hadn't wanted us to be evacuated but when I had seen my friends
in my class putting their names down on the Evacuation List I decided I didn't want to
miss out on this 'great adventure!' So I begged and pleaded to go with my friends until
Mam and Dad eventually gave way. There was also great pressure on parents at that time
to send their children to the safety of the countryside. Those who decided to keep their
children at home were looked upon as selfish and uncaring therefore, reluctantly, our parents
put our names down on the list knowing that we would be sent to an unknown destination in the
country, not sure when we would see each other again.
| Official Poster seen throughout the country from 1939 onwards |
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At this time we were seeing |
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We were told that every window had to be blacked out by thick black curtains
as soon as it was dusk as the merest chink of light could be seen by enemy fighters and bombers.
My Dad had made a frame for every window into which a solid piece of wood was nailed, and this was painted black. Every evening it was put up, and taken down in the morning. It was like living in a rabbit hole! To make sure we were completely 'blacked out' Air Raid Wardens went round every street, and if the tiniest of lights showed they would bang on the door and shout 'Put that light out'. |
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Our comforting Lamplighters with their long poles which reached up to open the windows of the street lamps and light the gas mantles were now no longer seen. We were plunged into a world of darkness. Streets were now black, and with no chinks of light coming from houses or shop windows, and having only shaded torches which gave the merest pin-point of light, the streets were dangerous places, not because of attacks, but because of falling over uneven pavements or walking into lamp-posts, and many accidents occurred in the first months of the war.
| To help us in these dark times the pavements were painted with directions which the small beam from a torch could pick out. |  |
Barrage balloons were now seen in the sky - huge silver elephant-like things 60ft. long and 25ft. wide. Three thousand were now around the country, mainly in coastal towns such as ours. Flying at 5,000 ft. and lower, it was hoped they would entangle enemy aircraft and bring them down, and so they gave a feeling of security to us during the coming years as we heard that many of them were doing just that.
Air-raid shelters were being built in homes, schools, factories, even streets, ominous signs of what was to come.
Another sign of the impending war was being issued with gas masks. We had been told to report to a nearby Hall and there we were given these strange things. Someone had helped us put them on then ran their fingers round to make sure they fitted. Babies screamed as they were placed in their completely encasing gas masks and children cried as they, too, were scared, but it had to be done.
I know I felt as if I couldn't breathe when it was first put on me, it was a frightening experience but one which I soon got used to.
 | As the Germans had used poisonous gases in the previous war it was highly likely they would do it again. |
| Women doing their household chores whilst getting used to wearing their gas masks. |
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 | Mother and baby on their way to the Evacuation. Mother carrying the Large gas mask for the baby, the bellows for breathing had to be compressed by hand. |
| Identity cards were issued which had to be carried at all times. To be without it was a punishable offence. |  |
 | Ration books were also issued and we were immediately made aware of how little our rations were to be in the future. |
| Sandbags were now seen outside buildings, and windows were taped across to prevent shattering from bomb blast. |
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| Foreign nationals - German and Italian - were rounded up by the Army or the Police and taken away to Internment Camps - on the Isle of Man I believe. |  |
This was not only for our good, but it was the best for them also as German 'sleepers' could now be activated, and if those living in Britain had relatives still living in Germany or Italy then they could be threatened by reprisals if they refused to spy on Britain, or even take action in factories or Dockyards. It may seem strange that a child should remember this so clearly, the reason is that we had a lovely elderly German couple who were the owners of a Pork Butcher shop not very far from where we lived and who were well liked by all. Everyone felt very sorry that had to go, and the day the Police came for them Mam happened to be there and she said it was very moving to see so many people wishing them well, and telling them to come back after the war. 'You'll be all right' they called, and 'Don't worry we'll be waiting for you to open up again.' Mam said the old couple were moved to tears by the love shown them from their neighbours and customers.
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Posters could now be seen at Railway Stations asking
'Is your journey really necessary?'
Hoardings were filled with Posters stating
'Loose lips sink ships'
'Careless talk costs lives'----
'Make do and mend'
and many more which appeared at regular intervals during the war.
