Bernard's Story

1939, September they took us to a large hole in the ground, flixton.
We started to fill sand bag, which were very heavy for nine year old boys, and for many years after we didn't realise that Chasam Park was the place in which this happened.

1942, We watched a dog fight over Flixton and Barton, it was very exciting for us, being young lads. We were hoping that one plane would be shot down.

1943, I joined the army cadets, I used to go on perade in small trousers, the age group of the army cadets was 13, 6months - 19. I learned to kill people at 13.6months, for the wind, distance and speed. I still remember all these things I learned in the army cadets till this day, and im now 74. I learnt more in the cadets than I ever did in the army as you used to have to pass exams, I passed the first part. I went to a lecture at Flixton Barrets, with the home guard, and leant how to be a parachutist. I asked the captain If we could join, he answered that he was looking for a way for this to be possible but in Arnon Bridge, he was killed.

1944, The realisation of the Army Cadets with no identification, but in uniform. This meaning that under war rules if any person was found in uniform with no identication they could be shot as spies. They then issued us all with identification.

1945, I was working down at Flixton at Kenleworth avenue for a women, Mrs Conway, with her 2 sons, One of which had sung a U-boat. They sank it and the survivors came up, very, very feeble. They had a debet, the crew, wether they should give them one life raft or two. Then decided they should only give the survivors one life raft. I thought that was mean, and he replied... 'They did not know, wether the Germans, if the other way round, they would of given them none at all.'

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