��ѿ��ý

This story was submitted to the People’s War website by Peter Quinn of the Lancashire ��ѿ��ý Guard on behalf of Anthony Moors, and was added to the site with his permission by the staff of Blackpool Central Library.

When the sirens sounded my mum, at first, took me into the Anderson Shelter in the garden. But eventually we went into the “gloryhole” under the stairs.

I vividly remember seeing the Coventry blitz, from a distance of about five miles, and looking at the fiery sky without comprehending what was happening. I was seven years old at the time. The truth came to me over the next few days - when it did, I feared for my welfare.

Some months later, the sirens sounded and we went to the “gloryhole”. It was then, when I could hear the drone of the bombers above, even though no bombs had dropped nearby, that I was overcome with a morbid fear. I started to tremble, uncontrollably, with terror.

After that I seemed to take things in my stride; but now, some 60+ years later, my heart stands still when I hear the recorded wailing of the air raid sirens.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.