Forties Memories

As a boy in Enfield we had an outside toilet,with a sloping roof
From that roof comes my earliest memories,and I tell the truth
It was the time of the Battle of Britain,and I watched a 'dog fight'
Too young to know I was seeing history made, or feel any fright.

I can remember collecting shrapnel after an air-raid
Though we were warned not to, booby traps could be laid
Then there was the night when on the corner a bomb did drop
Our area lost so many houses, and its local shop
I can remember the windows, crashing all around
Too young to know if there was a loss of life on the ground.

We had most of our lessons at school in the air-raid shelter
We often had our gas masks on, this realy made us swelter
I remember being evacuated by train, with a label round my neck
But I did not like to be away, and soon made the return trek.

Then came the victory parties, organised for every street
After all th war years, this was my generations first treat
I remember American soldiers, and thought it great fun
When they responded gladly to our request 'got any gum chum'
I must have been ten before I saw my first orange or banana
Not knowing how to get into them, caused me much drama.

Now I am in my late sixties and remember in a different way
By carrying The British Legion Standard on Remembrance Day.

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