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My sister Norma and i were 7 and 9 at the outbreak of war,we lived in Osmondthorpe east side of Leeds,our home was near a large shunting yard where my father worked,due to the yard been a target we were evacuated to a house run by mrs march at wetherby.
We were both very home sick and only stayed a week,my mum mrs edna burton came to collect us both, and took us back home,this leads on to the story of the Anderson shelter,every night our parents would put us to bed inside the shelter which was situated inthe back garden,i couldnt sleep very well with all the creepy crawlies that shared the shelter with us,when the sirens went off the shelter was home to my mum and dad albert burton,mr and mrs wainwright our neighbours and there dog and budgie,very crowded it was too.On some nights there was a little bit more space when my father was on duty as a air raid warden.
Inside the shelter we could hear the shrapnel falling around outside as the anti aircraft guns went off near the shunting yard,one night my dad came home with a dent in his helmet caused by shrapnel very lucky i say.
after the all clear was given we use to pick the pieces up that had fallen,they were hard days but happy,all the people inthe area all stuck together, and help each other out,so different to now.

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