Memories Of The War

I was not born at the time of the war but these stories have been told by my families.
The year was 1942 in Bootle Liverpool.It was one of the area's which was close to the docks and which the germans were eager to destroy.I have always been intrigued by the happenings of the war and especially the feelings and fears of the peoples everyday life.
My own father was in the Royal Navy and as a young child told me a few experiences and traumatic times of the war. I know he met my mother in the air raid shelter as he was playing the piano, and everyone stood around singing. He explained to us children that everyone would rally around and enjoy the moment,not knowing what tomorrow would bring. He said how it brought friends closer together and he always said "In the good old days," meaning how the communities helped each other.Sadly I lost my parents when they were both young,so there was so many questions about the war I never asked.
This story was told to me by my father-law Mr Philip Farley who was about fourteen at the time of these events.
He told me of many stories which occured around Marsh Lane. Some would make me cry and others made me laugh.He explained that the young people had to grow up quickly.So they had to support and help their families.
Hundreds of people lost their lives in Bootle. Philip and his friends were playing around the first unexploded bomb in Marsh Lane, not realising the danger.He said they threw sticks and stones till a policeman came along, "Come on lads, go and play somewhere else. I want to tape it all this off! We don't want any cyclist falling down, so make yourself scarce." Philp said they had only gone a few hundred yards when there was an almighty explosion.
The first bomb with a delayed desinator head to go off.Miraculously the policeman walked about fifty yards and was not injured.So if they had all not moved they would of all been killed.
Philip told me the story of when the sirens went off, his mam and his younger brother Jimmy and himself were joined by their neighbour Maureen who had a three toddlers. They would all run in a shelter at the back of their house which they climbed down into.
They would all snuggle together and amuse the children.His mam and Maureen would sing or play cards,trying to keep their minds off the awful sounds of the bombs and waiting for the all clear.
This particular night they all settled in the shelter and the noise of the bombs filled them with fear.Philip said they all tried to be brave and they prayed that they would all come out of it alive.They came louder and louder till a horrendous thud and then a crash came.The children screamed and his mam and their neighbour both started to cry.
"We have been hit!" Jimmy and Philip shouted and filled with excitement. "Don't worry mam we will get you out." The boys both said to them " We will take care of yer, me and our Jimmy, so don't cry."
The children were screaming and the shelter was filled with noise. The two boys started to push the door as hard as they could.But it was jammed. The boys went to the escape hatch hoping they could dig themselves out.
His mam shouted " The house has fell on us!" Amongst her tears she hugged one of the children.
They all started to panic and the lads started to claw the soil and pushed and shuffed till they heard voices shouting.
" It's okay mam we can hear someone shouting so don't cry." The lads shouted they were okay and they all huddled in a corner terrified waiting for help.The men from outside started to push the door and the two lads dug as fast as they could,clawing all the soil around the hatch.Eventually they got through and they were both covered in soil. Relieved they saw a group of people who had helped move the rubble standing there. They helped his mam and Maureen and the children out." Are you okay?" they all asked.
" What happened, was it a bomb?" His mam asked. Everyone started laughing, and a policeman who had heard the crash came to investigate.It had been a bomb but it had hit the pawn shop opposite and the three brass balls had flew off and knocked their chimney off and it had crashed in to the shelter." Your lucky to be alive," the policeman said.His mam and her friend were so relieved and praised the lads for being brave." But what are we going to do now?" his mam said. "Yer fathers suit was in there!"
" There will be more then yer husbands suit," the policeman said.
" Lets ave a cup of tea!" they all said as they laughed about the three brass balls!

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.