Lived in Surrey/London Chessington known as "World of Adventure".
What did I do at 6 and a half years old pre-war baby. Probably out playing in the street. The street had 106 houses all 2 up one down. All the families were young families so on average with 2 kids per household I had a potential of over 200 friends.
The houses one fire burning coal. One coal boiler which took 24 hours to heat water to a tepid temperature. One bath a week. All this provided you could get the rationed coal.
We slept probably a quarter of the war in an Anderson shelter in the garden. It was cosy I thought at the time this was all normal. 50% of the the windows in the house were covered with lino as the glass had been blown in by a bomb blast. There were numerous holes of missing houses in the streets around but not ours.
Little idea, like most kids, that a war had been raging for 6 years. Our parents desperately carrying on to look outwardly as if we were living an ordinary life. For the kids that was so. The nearest we got was seeing a Spitfire ot Tempest interrupting the game on at the time. In 44 some times a V!1 thundering across the sky. At night in the shelter a mass of bombers crossing over on there way to Germany. An occassional army lorry or a soldier walking down the street with his rifle.
Then evacuated in late 44 to Sunderland (then argument between mum and paternal grandma over fleas in the bed) and so then Hull. Then back to Chessington as the V1 threat had retreated.
VE for me held little. Probable that mother was very happy but her time was spent looking after 2 kids without any of the resources we have to day and with the little food available on rations. Oranges Bananas were unknowns as was icecream. We got regulation jelly with custard the latter made from powdered egg sent from the New World.. We had 12 chickens in the mini back garden and the front garden was covered in spuds. or later runner beans
So VE day for me. I bet it was something like this. Squabbled with sister. Smacked annoying friend who then smacked me back. Playing with dinky cars on home made roads in the garden soil. Sum total of one car each second hand and worn out but treasured. Afternoon out in the street, no petrol no cars, playing cowboys and indians.
Lastly no TV. Think of that. But Itma on the radio.
Laurie
Any one else of my age an recollections ?
What did I do at 6 and a half years old pre-war baby. Probably out playing in the street. The street had 106 houses all 2 up one down. All the families were young families so on average with 2 kids per household I had a potential of over 200 friends.
The houses one fire burning coal. One coal boiler which took 24 hours to heat water to a tepid temperature. One bath a week. All this provided you could get the rationed coal.
We slept probably a quarter of the war in an Anderson shelter in the garden. It was cosy I thought at the time this was all normal. 50% of the the windows in the house were covered with lino as the glass had been blown in by a bomb blast. There were numerous holes of missing houses in the streets around but not ours.
Little idea, like most kids, that a war had been raging for 6 years. Our parents desperately carrying on to look outwardly as if we were living an ordinary life. For the kids that was so. The nearest we got was seeing a Spitfire ot Tempest interrupting the game on at the time. In 44 some times a V!1 thundering across the sky. At night in the shelter a mass of bombers crossing over on there way to Germany. An occassional army lorry or a soldier walking down the street with his rifle.
Then evacuated in late 44 to Sunderland (then argument between mum and paternal grandma over fleas in the bed) and so then Hull. Then back to Chessington as the V1 threat had retreated.
VE for me held little. Probable that mother was very happy but her time was spent looking after 2 kids without any of the resources we have to day and with the little food available on rations. Oranges Bananas were unknowns as was icecream. We got regulation jelly with custard the latter made from powdered egg sent from the New World.. We had 12 chickens in the mini back garden and the front garden was covered in spuds. or later runner beans
So VE day for me. I bet it was something like this. Squabbled with sister. Smacked annoying friend who then smacked me back. Playing with dinky cars on home made roads in the garden soil. Sum total of one car each second hand and worn out but treasured. Afternoon out in the street, no petrol no cars, playing cowboys and indians.
Lastly no TV. Think of that. But Itma on the radio.
Laurie
Any one else of my age an recollections ?
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