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At the time of the evacuation of Dunkirk,we lived in Guernsey Grove, S.E.24. Our garden backed onto the railway line which ran direct from the south coast into Victoria. During the evacuation of Dunkirk, there were trains backed up and stationary, waiting their turn to get into Victoria station, every carriage packed tight with men, many were wounded, all were exhausted. I remember my parents and aunt throwing up cigarettes and apples to the men, and my mother frantically writing down the names and addresses called out by those who wanted us to let their families know they were alive and safe.
On another occasion, when the Blitz was at it's height, the whole family took a trip to the Regal cinema in West Norwood one Sunday afternoon. During the film the message "Air raid in progress" was flashed up on the screen, a few people left, but most sat tight, suddenly the top of the screen caught fire, where an incendiary bomb had come thro', the only person in the place to panic was my Grandmother, Dad pushed her back into her seat, told her to shut up, and sat on her! eventually, we all left quietly.

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