- Contributed by听
- Darlington Libraries
- People in story:听
- John Umpleby Peacock
- Location of story:听
- Darlington
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A4123351
- Contributed on:听
- 27 May 2005
I was 5 years old when the war started we weren't really attacked, but houses were machine gunned on a night on return journeys, on a morning we used to go and pick the caes out of the wall, and make pencil cases out of them.
While the raids were going on we had a Nissen shelter and supposed to have 4 people in but we had 8 including our next door neighbours. We had a ggod nosh up of jacket potatoes, mams rice pudding and some cocoa. Sometimes home made elderberry wine too, so a pretty enjoybale experience, while being a child.
My brother was in the Royal Engineers and went to Burma, India and Ceylon, but never saw any battles, as he was behind the scenes as a a tailor, repairing and making uniforms. He returned safely, and never saw a bullet fired.
At this time I was at school and we played war games during play times, it was a bit of a laugh. During the war people were very friendly, neighbours walking into unlocked doors, borrowing sugar etc... No thieves about then.
Veggies were grwon in our back garden as part of the war effort and we shared them amongst people who had none. We had a young soldier billeted with us as part of the war scheme, he was in everynight so obviously wasnt off fighting.
VE day we had a big street party with every one there, over 200 then a bigger one on VJ day, three or four streets joined in. Must people got drunk then! Including myself at 10 years old.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo