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In 1942 I was eleven. I was a pupil at Dartford Grammar School. I lived in Bexley in Kent, with my parents and brother Michael.

One of my strongest memories is having to cycle to school across Dartford Heath. I had to carry my identity card! One morning, about half past eight I think, bombs were falling out of the sky -- Kent was in the direct line of flight from Germany to London -- I could hear them clearly. But my mother still insisted I make the journey. There was no traffic, of course.

It sums up life at the time -- we just had to get on with it. I was happy at school, and at home, in spite of the war ... we had a huge garden; we grew vegetables. One downside, though, was the lack of meat -- I really did miss that!

THIS STORY WAS ENTERED BY JOHN YOUNG OF ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ SOUTH EAST TODAY, ON BEHALF OF MARIE HELYAR. SHE UNDERSTANDS THE SITE'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

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