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This story was submitted to the People's War site by Natalie Smith of Burntwood School on behalf of Mrs Rooke.

When war was declared I was nine years old, one of the most frightening events of the time was when I had to queue up outside the library to be issued with a gasmask.I clearly remember crying because I couldn't breath and the rubber smelt awful. Our school was closed down and I was given lessons at my friend's house every 2 weeks, where we drew and painted. a brick Air Raid shelter was built nearby, it looked ugly.
My parents then decided that living through the bombing was too dangerous, so my brother and I were evacuated to Spalding.
Here I was treated awfully and made to sleep in a babie's cot, as well as clean the windows and floors. When my parents saw how I was being treated they immediatly brought me home. Here I was faced with constant bombing and noise, praying every night that the bombs wouldn't land on us. The bombing grew worse so we were evacuated again, this time to Cornwall.Here we had a wonderful time and called the carers "Auntie" and "Uncle". We returned to London near the end of the war and joined in the celebrations at the VE party. In 1953 I married Fred, we were still using ration books and identity cards. Now I look back at this time in my life and remember all the happy times and memories I have from it.

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