Arabian nights!

In the summer of 1939 I remember Neville Chamberlain the Prime Minister announcing that we were at war with Germany. I was living in an upstairs flat in London Tollington Park N4. It was a hot Saturday afternoon and we were sitting out on the veranda when the air raid warning sounded which nearly caused my Grandmother to fall over the balcony. I remember for the first time in broad daylight the German bombers flew over the capital in formation. White puffs of what appeared to be clouds was the explosion of shells fired by the anti aircraft guns. Through a health problem I was not evacuated to the country with other children. As all the London schools had closed and I needed to continue my education I had to attend the convent of Notra Dam which was a french convent established in North London. I attended an interview with the Reverend mother who is the primary head of the convent, a fierce ancient lady that reminded me that the children attending the covnent were mainly female- actually about 10 girls to every 2 boys. I was made aware of the 10 commandents which greatly impressed a 9 year old boy. During the period of 1940- 43 London was subject to heavy bombing at the beginning of the bombing raids German Aircraft would hit London at about 14.00, usually for several hours until dusk. the bombing commenced about 20.00 and usually end in the early hours of the morning. As the RAF fighter squadrons engaged the bombers during the day, heavy losses caused day light raids to cease. During this period we were bombed out the house adjoining receicved a direct hit, the 2 people living in the house were killed. I slept in the attic room at the time and was awoken by the loud explosion and remembe the roof light crashing down and hitting the floor beside the bed. I was carried out by an A.R.P man (civil defence) who assisted in rescue operations. We were taken to a central hostel where beds and food were provided. As our flat was unsafe to return to, we were given another flat at 73 Mercers road N19. Before we were re-homed we spent seveal nights at the Astoria cinema where my aunt was an usherette. The cinema had a Arabian night structure and large comforable settees where you could sleep and morale boosting films were shown. My Grandmother suffered a nervous disorder and I was sent to stay with my aunt and uncle in Harrow. During that summer of 1944 my only skirmish with the enemy happened on Sunday lunch time, we were standing outside Raynes lane station in Harrow waiting for my grandparents visit when a large aircraft appeared approaching the station. As Northolt RAF airfiled was close by I assumed it was a British aircraft as it flew over the station I noticed the swastikas on the wings. The aircraft was intercepted by an airforce fighter and went down in a trail of smoke. After D day I cannot remember seeing a piloted aircraft over London. My final recollection of 1944 we went to Blackpool with my grandparents there was no access to the beach as it was barb- wired but spent a pleasant week in a guest house. As we disembarked the train at Euston the air raid warnig sounded, this came as a surprise as there had been no bombing for some time. This was our first experience of the doodle bug. I saw five of these. Next came the V2 rockets, these caused considerable damage before the end of the war.

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