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This story was submitted to the People's War web-site on behalf of Margaret Feltham by Heather McGrouther with her permission. She understands the site's terms and conditions.

I lived with my family on Queen Isabel's Avenue, Cheylesmore, and was born in 1931. My stepfather and brother erected our Anderson Shelter in the back garden. It was covered with lots of soil and rocks ( I do not know the date in question but believe it to be 14th October 1940).

Bunks were fitted at the back and benches down each side of the shelter. An electric light cable had been brought from the house. My step-sister and myself were asleep in the bunks. My mother, step father, Mrs Hodel and her son Jim from next door, were sitting on the benches. The bomb dropped just over the fence in the Hodel's back garden. The light went out, Dad tried to open the door, which went outwards, but soil had dropped in front of it, thrown up by the bomb!

A whistle was hung in the shelter and a special signal (eg two long, two short blasts) was blown. Our Doctor - Dr Balantine arrived with two air raid wardens. When he knew there were no casualties the doctor went home just down the road. The wardens were told where a spade was - in the shed - and removed the soil and the door was opened. We stepped out and stood in a row on the garden path, I remember there was a big moon.

Our house was still standing, but next door's house was only half standing. People came and my step-sister went to a house up th estreet, I slept on a sofa in a house across the road. Furniture was able to be rescued, but the house had to be pulled down because it was badly cracked.

We were found a new council house in Charter Avenue, Canley, where we spent the rest of the war, and after, until our house was rebuilt.

Our Anderson Shelter was a very cosy place, and did not fill up with water as so many others did.

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