R
Robert Harrison
Guest
Thank You Mister Anderson
(Part three)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain.
“…consequently, we are now at war with Germany”.
“War, what does that mean dad, ay dad what does that mean”.
“It means this our kid”. He showed me a cartoon picture on the
Front of one of the daily papers, it may have been the Express
Or the Daily mail, but it doesn’t matter. The cartoon was of the
British symbol John Bull, sitting on a bench in a park maybe.
Any way, there was a great big black bomb hitting him in the
Back. Across the bomb was the word WAR. John Bull
Had a pained look upon his face. Well he would wouldn’t he?
That is how it started for me, a kid of nine years of age.
Harry Bloomfield came running up the field shouting “The Germans
Are coming, the Germans are coming”. “How do you know” my brothers
And I asked. “Cant you hear the bloomin’ sirens wailing” he shouted
As he sped past, his face white, not only from running, but he was
Scared to death, Harry wanted his mom.
So that’s what that noise was, a siren. We had never heard one before.
We ran home up the road. Scared, but trying to laugh at the same time.
When we arrived home mom was in the back garden as were all of our
Neighbors in theirs, wondering what on earth was going on. “Some said
The Germans were coming”, said our neighbor Mrs. Barrow. It was a few
Moments later the All Clear sounded. It was only a practice, but some
Of the older folk remembered the First World War.
It was not long after that incident that the council workers went round
To all of the entries and put up ladders on the wall, and stirrup pumps,
Red buckets filled with water and other with sand. I’m not sure just how
Much good was one bucket of water was going to do if your house was
On fire. The sand was for putting out Incendiary Bombs. You had to
Smother them you see.
Incendiary Bombs or Fire Bombs as we later called them. Lethal things they
Were. Made of magnesium, which burned brilliant white, throw water on
Them and they would burst into a thousand pieces causing more spot fires,
For that was their purpose. Get any of those glowing pieces on you and
It would burn a hole right through you if it were big enough.
The council ruined out field at the back of our house. The dug bloomin’
Great long deep trenches across it so that enemy planes could not land.
But the army did give us the pleasure of giving us kids the biggest balloon
We had ever seen, not to play with but to look at. It was our first sight
Of a Barrage Balloon. Next to the army lorry that held the balloon to a
Great big winch, they put our very own Search Light.
We were ready for our dad’s bl..dy Germans.
(Part three)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain.
“…consequently, we are now at war with Germany”.
“War, what does that mean dad, ay dad what does that mean”.
“It means this our kid”. He showed me a cartoon picture on the
Front of one of the daily papers, it may have been the Express
Or the Daily mail, but it doesn’t matter. The cartoon was of the
British symbol John Bull, sitting on a bench in a park maybe.
Any way, there was a great big black bomb hitting him in the
Back. Across the bomb was the word WAR. John Bull
Had a pained look upon his face. Well he would wouldn’t he?
That is how it started for me, a kid of nine years of age.
Harry Bloomfield came running up the field shouting “The Germans
Are coming, the Germans are coming”. “How do you know” my brothers
And I asked. “Cant you hear the bloomin’ sirens wailing” he shouted
As he sped past, his face white, not only from running, but he was
Scared to death, Harry wanted his mom.
So that’s what that noise was, a siren. We had never heard one before.
We ran home up the road. Scared, but trying to laugh at the same time.
When we arrived home mom was in the back garden as were all of our
Neighbors in theirs, wondering what on earth was going on. “Some said
The Germans were coming”, said our neighbor Mrs. Barrow. It was a few
Moments later the All Clear sounded. It was only a practice, but some
Of the older folk remembered the First World War.
It was not long after that incident that the council workers went round
To all of the entries and put up ladders on the wall, and stirrup pumps,
Red buckets filled with water and other with sand. I’m not sure just how
Much good was one bucket of water was going to do if your house was
On fire. The sand was for putting out Incendiary Bombs. You had to
Smother them you see.
Incendiary Bombs or Fire Bombs as we later called them. Lethal things they
Were. Made of magnesium, which burned brilliant white, throw water on
Them and they would burst into a thousand pieces causing more spot fires,
For that was their purpose. Get any of those glowing pieces on you and
It would burn a hole right through you if it were big enough.
The council ruined out field at the back of our house. The dug bloomin’
Great long deep trenches across it so that enemy planes could not land.
But the army did give us the pleasure of giving us kids the biggest balloon
We had ever seen, not to play with but to look at. It was our first sight
Of a Barrage Balloon. Next to the army lorry that held the balloon to a
Great big winch, they put our very own Search Light.
We were ready for our dad’s bl..dy Germans.
