Childhood memories of York during the Second World War

The contributor and her mother lived in York in a crossing keeper's house, right across from the railway. Bombs had fallen in the vicinity of their house which led to damage, the bombs were dropped by German bombers. The contributor and her mother had come to live in York from Liverpool.

The contributor doesn't remember feeling frightened of the bombs. She was taken into hospital as a small child and was in an oxygen tent/tank during the Baedecker raid of April 1942. There was a circular window in the tent which she can remember her mother looking through, she remembers her mother's face being red with sweat and tears. The contributor remembers even at school looking down the roads to see if there were trucks approaching with German soldier in them.

If there was to be a ceremony such as a wedding the contributor remembers everyone from the street houses pitching in and sharing sugar. They also kept hens and chickens so the contributor felt that she was well-fed 1942-1943.

When the war ended there was a feeling a happiness all around and the contributor's mother took her to Parliament Street and Exhibition Square in York which was filled with happy people celebrating. The contributor remembers an Australian soldier lifted her up on his shoulders and put his cap on her head. The contributor's grandfather lived in Leeds and when he came to visit he would bring her sweets: a bag of dollymixtures.