Children's War (Circa 1941)

I lived through WW2 and remember it very clearly. Liverpool was heavily bombed, much of the centre flattened. All the memories in this poem are genuine and accurate. Even now, the shortages and hardships of those days are reflected in my abhorence of w

These are very real memories. Every incident and experience described is specific and is quite clear in my mind. Sadly, at no time since, have children somewhere in the world been free of the same fears, and worse.

 

In the night

Sleepy eyes;

Bundled into siren suit

Red flannel they said

And a camel dressing gown.

 

Down the stairs

In mum’s arms;

Passed into an iron shelter

Under the earth

With vegetables growing on top.

 

Crump, Crump, Crump!

Mum makes tea:

Quick dash to kitchen.

Skies are lit up

Dad lets me watch the searchlights.

 

Crump, Crump, Crump!

Mobile Ack Ack                 (= anti aircraft gun)

Outside the front door.

Mum takes tea;

Quick dash to gun.

 

Back again,

Looking up

Sees bomber in searchlight;

Shouts at it and at Hitler.

Come in Peg (That’s dad shouting).

 

Thwack! Outside.

Shrapnel

Bedded in the wood

Round the entrance

Thank God she came in.

 

Ern, Doris

And Graham Foulkes

From next door share our shelter.

We all ‘Dig for Victory!’

In their garden.

 

There’s a light;

Dad put it in.

Games – Ludo – cards

Whistling bombs

Bam, Crunch, Crash.

 

That’s no gun.

That’s Bombs,

Not far away either.

Next day, found out;

Swanside Road; Girl from school killed.

 

 

 

Back in bed

When I woke.

Must get the shrapnel after school.

Find plenty on the way;

We do ‘swaps’

 

The gun’s gone

Hope Hitler

Doesn’t bomb it

In tonight’s raid

Knock, Knock, Knock.

 

Only Brian;

Calling for school.

Play Spitfires on the way

But it’s daft.

Spitfires can’t search for shrapnel.

 

School’s in a house.

Too dangerous

All together in one building.

Ashover Avenue.

I like that. Posh.

 

Cut out

Union Jacks

From ‘Flag’ cigarette packets.

Arthur sticks them in a map;                        

Pinholes are getting closer.

 

They’re talking

About ‘Blitz’

I’m seven and I can’t die.

Really, I can’t; I know I can’t.

Joan Saunders did though, in Swanside.

 

At last,

We’ve found

The shrapnel that nearly got mum.

Dad dug it out of the wood

And gave it to me.

 

Alder Hey; ward M2

Three months

In hospital.

Full of blokes in blue suits.

Lowered sweets from the balcony above.

 

Six months

Convalescent,

In Rhyl. Could see fires in Liverpool,

I think, glowing.

Hope Mum, Dad and Arthur are OK.

 

 

Footnote: Arthur was Dad's pal.  He had fought through WW1. and became a sergaent major.  Dad met him in the '30s depression and brought him home to live with us.  He never left and was like a second wonderful father to me.  When dad died, he married mum and just took on all the responsibilities.  I learned so much from these two wonderful men.  One became an Air Raid Warden and the other was in the Home Guard.

Blue suits were what wounded military wore and even the children's hospitals took them in.  They used to send sweets to our ward because they were rationed an kids got very few.

Reviews

[Gary H]

Have to thank Fabian for sending this to me. Brought back a lot of memories of my father and his tales of the blitz. He was without his dad - sent off elsewhere - so largely reliant on his mum and sisters making sure he was in the air-raid shelters at the right times. At the time they lived on the outskirts of London and never quite knew what was going to happen next.
Reading this makes me want to ask my father to write something but I'm not sure if he could anymore. As you say, your thoughts are also those that are still prevalant in children in many parts of the world today, and I'm thinking still lucid in your mind - something you will never forget.
Nice writing.

[Donald Meikle]

I learned to read in ours, by candle light, Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey. rented for thrippence a week. and just down the street from you!

[Bear]

Thank you for telling of and for sharing your life experience on site!!
Sallie Bear

[Emily B]

Oh, wow! The history of war from the seven year old perspective. As a student of history I would like to learn more.

[Valentine]

Deep asnd a very powerful write..Memories that many have forgotten or never lived through..Being Jewish on my mother;s side and from Germany I lost many family members as only a few got out. War destroys not only countries but hearts, minds, souls, past memories and makes no pleasent present ones..I wish all wars would stop..God bless..Valentine

[Legion]

For those that know their history, we often learn the stats and think we know (through our imagination and limited empathy) what happened. But you never really know unless you lived through it. This is an excellent account of living during that time. I'm glad you shared it. Great write. Kept me riveted. Going in my favorites.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This is just breathtakingly brilliant and wonderful, I loved the broken feeling of one memory to the next just as you remembered, you wrote..it lends an authentic voice to the piece which is nearly audible, just fab writing!