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I was 9 years old when War was declared, one aspect of the War I am writing about are about the memories of nights sleeping down the air raid shelters, which had to be at least 7 feet under ground. They were made up of heavy steel to help to protect us from explosive bombs which were being dropped by enemy aeroplanes to destroy everything they dropped on and surrounding homes and buildings. Sirens would sound to let us be aware the enemy planes were approaching which happened mostly at nightfall when as children we would be in bed, which meant we would be awakened by our parents, to get down to the shelter, having just time to get down with coats and shoes, left ready the night before. Sometimes we were down the shelter until morning, we would know when it was safe to come out of the shelter as a siren would sound which was called the all clear. It was a different sound from the one which warned us from the air raid after several disturbed nights we would be allowed off school for a few hours to get some sleep, before returning to school to start another day.
A very frightening time but some we came to expect.
By M.J.Goold

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