Chapter 7

Stories of the "blitz" are many and varied, I shall confine mine to two incidents in which I was personally involved. Doreen and I had been to see the film "Road to Singapore" at the Ritz cinema in Birkenhead. (The nurses curfew had not then started.) I had just seen Doreen home and returned to the Pier Head from where my bus would leave, when the siren sounded. I took shelter as close to the bus terminus as I could, knowing that the bus was sure to run as the crew were from Warrington depot. (I later located their shelter and used to join them.) Four bombs fell very close to my shelter, I felt the blast from one of them. As I walked to my bus after the all clear, I could see a crater right through the tram lines and the overhead lines were down. On my way to work the following morning the trams were running where the lines had been damaged less than ten hours before. A good example of the "business as usual" ethic that prevailed at that time. Later the Ritz was partly destroyed by enemy action.

I was an air raid warden in our village of Hale. One night I was on duty chatting to our postman, "Ted," an Irishman who lived in a cottage opposite our house. The sky over Liverpool was a red glow, spangled with bursting anti-aircraft shells and there was a constant drone of aircraft overhead. Suddenly the whole village was bathed in a brilliant white light, which I guessed was a parachute flare, frequently used to illuminate the target. I said to Ted, "What do you think that is?" His reply, "I don't know, but I think it is something to do with the war."

I recounted this to the family, and Barbara, Bunny's wife who was staying with us relayed it to the Liverpool Echo, who printed it, sending her one shilling. Ted was quite above himself to be quoted in the press. He lived alone, and when mother baked, she would often make and extra item for him. Unfortunately the plates disappeared into the cottage never to return. On one occasion, when I delivered an apple tart, I asked for the plate, only to watch him carefully transfer the tart to another plate - one of ours!

As the air raids became heavier and more frequent my mother, among others in the village, was asked to accommodate two RAF men. We were not told of their mission, which was "hush hush." Only when they left did we learn that they had been building a "decoy" in a wood about a mile from the village. The theory was that lighting pre-prepared fires at the beginning of the raid would persuade the bombers to drop their load in the country (and on our village!). It was only used once. I think its failure to attract the bombers persuaded those in charge to abandon the scheme. There must have been many in the war office who overrated the stupidity of the enemy.

When Invasion threatened in 1940 the government had decreed that all the signs with place names should be removed. This applied to sign posts, station names, even shop fronts if a place name was included. It certainly made things difficult for the natives, particularly rail travel. I am sure than an invading army with detailed maps would have had no difficulty in finding their way about.

Bunny was at sea throughout the war, in the early years with Shaw Saville and subsequently Cunard, Although he saw plenty of action, he never "got his feet wet." This was an expression used by seamen who had not lost their ship. My friend John Beeley who was in the Navy, was on two vessels sunk in the same day during the evacuation of Dunkirk.

When Bunny and Barbara came to Hale on leave, Bunny always assumed "responsibility" for the wellbeing and safety of the house. I understand that this is quite usual with seafarers who are away for long periods, but seem unable to accept that life goes on while they are away. His "responsibility" included making an external tour of the house following an air raid.

Noel McKenzie, who was an inveterate practical joker, knew of this practice. One night, Bunny was out making his usual investigation, he called me to the front door, very concerned about a spherical object about a four inches in diameter on the drive. At this distance in time and situation, it is difficult to imagine Bunny's feelings, particularly when the object was revealed as a lead shot filled copper sphere, part of a dining room light fitting, popular in the 1930s, which had been placed there by Noel. I don't think Bunny ever forgave him. I fear there are many people who have never forgiven Noel for his jokes.

Doreen and I began house hunting, we felt it was essential to start married life in our own home, but houses for sale were very scarce. Seeing an advertisement in the Liverpool Echo for a house for sale in Halewood, I was on the doorstep at nine o'clock the following morning. The house was exactly what we wanted, at the right price and I agreed to buy it there and then. We were then able to start planning our wedding.