J W Forward's memory is playing tricks! Mickey Mouse gas masks were issued to young children, but not boys of 10 (The darks days of doodlebugs, October 18).
I was 11 in 1939 and living in Norbury with my parents, elder brother and young sister. We had an indoor Morrison Table Shelter erected in our lounge. I recall it had an excellent top for table tennis.
The day we received a direct blast from a VI, we were taking refuge under the stairs. Our conservatory and the back of the house took the full blast, sufficient to split the dividing wall to the front room. All the roof tiles went, and during the day the Royal Navy called to make temporary repairs with tarpaulins of course it was raining.
Yes, the VIIs were frightening. My uncle, a superintendent of police at Southwark and a holder of the Military Cross, awarded for bravery in the First World War, was on the scene of the first to strike London and said he had never seen such devastation and loss of life.
It saddens me wars still continue and people suffer, but that's what history is made of!
GEORGE R JAMES
Kingsdown Road
Cheam
November 6, 2001 11:30
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