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I was about seven when War was declared. I lived in Ramsgate, near Manston Areodrome. I was playing in the street, and remember hearing a radio playing somewhere, when War was declared. The street seemed empty, and someone said "War has been declared".

My Dad dug a huge whole in the back garden, on Nixon Avenue to put in the Anderson Shelter. I though it was a great little place - it had a bed each side of it. I can remember one night when the sirens sounded, I could hear the bombers going over, and my mother came up to get us out of bed to go to the shelter. I got up, but my Dad refussed to get out of bed!! My mother was ranting and raving at him and he just said "If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die in bed!" He stayed in bed, whilst me and my mother went to the shelter, fortunaltly our house was not hit!

On Christmas Day in 1939 or 1940, I can't quite remember which year, but it was definatley Xmas Day, my parents and I went for a walk along the sea front at Dover. It was very foggy, and extremley cold yet there was a man swimming in the sea! I thought he was mad! Beyond the crazy swimmer, were three impressive, huge War Ships, facing France, which I assumed were defensive ships, as their guns were pointing out to sea. I would really like to know if anyone else saw those ships, or was on them, and knows what they were?

At the end of the War I spent some time in Hospital (it was Panteg Hospital near Pontypool), and as a young boy loved listening to the tales of the soliders who I shared a ward with. All of the soliders had a distinctive 'Wounded Solider' uniform, which was a light blue with a red tie and a white shirt - the blue suit really sticks in my memory. I remember one day in particular, I heard the other soilders talking about a solider from Manchester, who they said would be in trouble! They were not wrong, as it turned out he was engaged to a girl in Manchester, and engaged to another girl in Newport, and was also dating one of the nurses!!

There was also the time when I noticed a nurse disappear into the door at the end of the ward, followed shortly afterwards, by a one legged blue suit on crutches!!! The door led to the toliets, and I happened to get the call of nature, I was puzzled, because there was no-one in sight, but one cubicle door was shut! I took the one remaining cubicle, and I wondered for years what the commotion was next door!!!!

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