Air Raid Siren

In 1939 I was an eight-year old schoolgirl, having progressed from Mixed Infants to Big Girls at Holton Road School at Barry in South Wales.
We were to be allowed to go home when the siren sounded, provided we could get there within three minutes. As a test run we were sent out from school at a set time and had to return with a signed parental note giving our time of arrival.
I puffed along on chubby little legs, honour-bound to break the three minute barrier. My gas mask, it's cardboard box covered in smart rexine, was slung round my neck & bounced along with me. Going my puny fastest the run took over five minutes and I had failed! My doting Mum refused to lie for me.
During the raids that followed I sat with the other failures under the stones stairs at school. We sang patriotic songs and it didn't seem so bad after all.

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