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I was cross, very very cross, as cross as a nine year old boy could be. He had spoilt everything, that Adolph Hitler, going round declaring war on everyone. Just who did he think he was? But, perhaps I should explain.

It was the last week in August 1939 and we had just begun our first ever seaside holiday (mum,dad,and my younger sister and brother).

It was far from posh, mind you, just a caravan hard against the sand dunes at Ingoldmells. For a young lad, however, the sea, sand and a wooden caravan was a dream come true.

Next door was a boy of similar age and we quickly became inseperable. Our daily routine started with an early trip over the dunes to see what the tide had washed up. This completed, we climbed to our den, a concrete pill box, set on the seaward side of the dunes. This 1914-1918 relic had 1917 on the ceiling in black candle smoke along with other rather dubious inscriptions. Three machine gun slots gave a panoramic view of the sea.

It was from here that we spotted our first submarine. Well not a whole one, just the periscope bobbing up and down in the waves. My new pal saw it first and I, although rather short sighted, thought I saw it too. " A 'U' Boat, we've seen a 'U' boat" we excitedly told any any passer by who would listen. From that moment we spent our waking hours scanning the sea for 'U' boats and the spies we knew they must carry. As the week past our 'U' boat count mounted and we became convinced that there were shoals of submarines out there. Our parents smiled indulgently.

On Friday the mood changed abruptly. A man with a wireless, in a nearby van, asked dad if he had heard about Poland? Little groups of anxious neighbours gathered in earnest conversation. At tea time came the bombshell - we were cutting short our holiday and returning home.

Next day, after tearful goodbyes we left our new friends and headed for Chesterfield. Arriving late in the day we concocted makeshift blackouts and had a belated meal. The next morning brought the grim news of war and the sudden shock of the first air raid siren.

We did in a way, complete our holiday but not until 1946 and then at Skegness a little further down the coast. The phantom 'U' boats of Ingoldmells sail unexorcised to this day.

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