Childhood Memories of the War - Patrick Kingston

Patrick Kingston was born in 1937. His earliest memories are of the Blitz. A cousin came to stay with them to escape the bombing. He was fearful of the bombs and knew what they could do. When they heard bombs being dropped they had to hide in the house. However, he was very young and the blackout and the bombs were a bit of an adventure to him. People could be prosecuted for showing any light from their windows.

Rationing did not really affect him as they knew a farmer who could supply them with food. There was a threat of a gas attack and that worried him. He hated the mask and doing gas mask drills. They were told that all the windows and doors had to be closed in case of a gas attack.

He was fascinated by trains. Down by a railway bridge, he remembers seeing soldiers being brought, many of them injured. Only certain buses were in action at the time. As much normality was created as possible.

He remembered when the war came to an end and there was a victory for England. People were dancing and the streets and fireworks were being let off.