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We lived in Southall and I was just 11 years old when it started. I used to get up early every morning to go shrapnel hunting. My sisters, friends and I used to play in dry bomb craters and bomb damaged houses with blown off doors and broken windows that the owners had left as unliveable.

I left school when I was thirteen and went to T.S. Mercury (a very strict pre-nautical training establishment beside River Hamble. One day, I was home on leave. I was coming out of the door and my neighbour, Charlie Balham was going in. I'd been away so long, I didn't know he was in the army until that day when we were both on leave at the same time and he was in uniform. I said hello Charlie.' And he said, 'Hello'

Even then I didn't know he was a commando until my sister told me, long after the war. I just wish I knew if Charlie made it safely.

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Helena Noifeld of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Kent and has been added to the website on behalf of Peter Battell with his permission. He fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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