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My father told tales of his time as a fireman in the blitz with humour. He would sleep at the firestation, but if it was a quieter night and they had chance to sleep he wuold oftHeen awake in bed on the balcony to where he had been wheeled because of his snoring. (He was deaf). The fire engine was of the Camberwick Green type where they sat on the side and frequently were slung off when the driver cornered too fast.He would not hear them shouting because of the bell, so they would often arrive after the engine. He was injured in the blitz. When he woke in hospital all of the injured were covered in blue gentian. He thought he had died and gone to join the imps of hell. However at this time my mother did not see him for weeks or days at a time as he worked at the Sterling Metals making castings for the planes which were shot down so they could be reflown. She did not know for a tme he was hurt. There were no benefits and for 3 weeks she had 5/- which her cousin gave her to support 8 children.

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