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On VE night mymum made her way with us (my two sisters and I) to the West End. I don't remember this particular incident, I think I was bein g picked up and hugged sby a policeman.

Some Americans were holding a large fire blanket - to allow people to jump from burning buildings and they were tossing women up in it.

Mum went up in the blanket and fractured her ribs. The next day she made her way to St Mary's Hospital to be xrayed.

When she saw the doctor, she entered the room and he was standing with his back to her looking at her xrays.

"So - what happened to you?" he asked. Embarrassed Mum said "Out celebrating doctor." "Weren't we all love." he replied. As he turned round to face her Mum noticed he was sporting an enormous black eye.

I distinctly remember the next day being given "A little job to do." It was unwrapping some waxed packets and removing their contents. Some were labelled ARCTIC SURVIVAL RATIONS and some were labelled DESERT SURVIVAL RATIONS. There were 2 or 3 fags in the top right hand corners and tablets. I distinctly remember dried food to be added to water.

Family folklore has it that Mum was on the front page of a national newspaper being tossed in the blanket. I don't know if this is true. Perhaps newspapers of the time would show this.

I had the most unbelievable experiences whilst evacuated, but have probably written enough.

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