Childhood Memories

I was just 6 years old when war started. Mum Dad and I lived on the top floor of the house,
we had l bedroom, lounge, small kitchen and the bathroom was shared with the people
who lived in the downstairs rooms. On the Sunday the 3rd of September 1939 we went downstairs
to hear Chamberlains broadcast that Britain was at war, as a 6 year old it was all very bewildering.
In the streets Public Shelters were set up, the issue of Gas Masks and Identity cards also
restrictions such as Black Out and later Rationing was introduced.
Shortly after the outbreak of war we moved from Hendon North London, to Hither Green in South East
London, and for the first time I had my own little bedroom. At the back of our 1st floor flat we had
our own balcony, and it was from this that we watched the London Docks on Fire on Saturday the
7th September 1940.
(Four flats shared our Anderson Shelter0
It was a week later on Saturday the 14th September 1940, that Mum and I plus my friend Contie
who lived next door, her Mum and 3 month old baby sister were all in the shelter, when our homes
were bombed, the blast caused glass and brickwork etc to enter the shelter, we were shaken and
frighten but not badly hurt. The Air Raid Warden told us to stay put, as there were water and gas
leaks. This being trapped in a confined space left Contie and I to suffer from claustrophobia in
later years.When at last we were allowed out the Warden took us to the greengrocers across
the road, all 5 of us sat down and were given a drink.The flats were all cordoned off and we
only had the things we stood up in, as it was late summer we did not even have a coat. When
our respective fathers returned from work, we all went to a Rest Centre(converted clinic) where
we were given a meal or something to eat, and then went into a street Public Shelter for the
night, we spent a few nights in this shelter it was dark,cold and not very comfortable.
Dad was working during the day, so it was left to Mum and I to go to the Assistance Office
in Rushey Green, Catford, for coupons, vouchers, ration book and money. Until we had some
money we had our main meal of the day,(paid for with vouchers) at the Rest Centre in Sangley
Road School,Catford. After spending many night in different shelter and houses,Dad got us a
flat at Lee, and with the furniture that was salvaged from our bombed home we moved into
Woodstock Court Lee,S.E.London, and lived there for many happy years.
For a few weeks in September and October 1941 Mum and I left London to go to my Grandmothers
at Aldershot while my Mum had my brother Dennis.
On the morning of the 20th January 1943 I did not go to school-as I had a hospital appointment for
electrical treatment to my leg. At lunch time that day Sandhurst Road School,Catford was hit by
a 1100lb bomb, it killed 38 children an 6 teachers, they have a collective grave in Hither Green
Cemetery. That was the end of my schooling at Sandhurst Road School, but I did go back a
few years ago, when I went to see the memorial window, and for a few seconds I was a child
again.

This is part of my memories of growing up during the war years.
Queenie (nee Houghton)

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