Children raising funds for Red Cross parcels

Eva Maskell (the contributor) lived in Newbury. She remembers school children, singing, in concerts in the back garden. A little boy joined in and lots of other kids then asked for money for the prisoners of war fund. Lots of people began donating, sung at Welford Park. Eva's mother sent off the money. It was mentioned on local radio. The money paid for 17-18 parcels for the POWs.

Eva had a camp bed in her bedroom for evacuees. From them she heard some horrible stories. E.g. People afraid to get undressed at night and get caught if a bomb dropped.

Greenham Common airbase was nearby so Eva saw and heard all the planes. When bombing become bad, her school[?] was bombed and the top half was used for accommodation and for a couple of weeks she went to school for half days, went to the museum for history lessons.

Eva's father and her future husband in home guard. They used to practice putting 'bombs' on tanks. She came home and saw her Dad was learning how to piece guns back together.

The day Newbury was bombed, Eva was in the cinema. Life went on around the war. Lots of dances at the American air base, good, quite strict, no alcohol allowed, coke (Coca Cola) and cake.

Eva met some nice Americans, she had boyfriend who was killed in 1942, had a poem from boyfriend at [Loseem?]

There was a fight in the corn exchange between Polish and American soldiers.
The letters include:
Letter of gratitude addressed to:
"Reference MS/JYC. The Concert Party, c/o Mrs. E. Fry, 55, Camp Close, Newbury, Berks. 29th July, 1942. Dear Children... Signed EM Thornton Director."

Letter:
PW/46E/42
WAR ORGANISATION of the BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY and ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. PRISONERS OF WAR DEPARTMENT. St. James's Palace, London, S.W.1.
Overleaf will be found a list of typical contents of standard food parcels despatched from the Packing Centres of the Organisation.
These parcels are addressed to the International Red Cross Committee at Geneva, for distribution among the prisoners of war. Donations towards their cost (approximately 10/- each) are most gratefully received by the Prisoners of War Department, St. James's Palace, London, S.W.l., or by the Scottish Red Cross Society, c/o Messrs. Mitchell & Smith, 163, West George Street, Glasgow, C.2; but parcels are provided for all prisoners whether contributions are sent on their behalf or not.
TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES ARE PACKED SEPARATELY EVERY WEEK, BUT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE STANDARD FOOD PARCEL
THE FOOD IN THE PARCELS IS SPECIALLY PLANNED TO SUPPLY WHAT IS LACKING IN THE RATIONS IN THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN EUROPE. CERTAIN FOODS ARE VITAMINISED.
Please turn over.
Typical Contents of Red Cross Standard Food Parcels.
1 Tin Biscuits, such as Service Ration, Healthy Life, etc.;
1 Tin Cheese;
1 Packet Chocolate;
1 Tin Fish, such as Herrings, Pilchards, Sardines, etc., or Bacon or Sausages;
1 Packet Dried Fruit, such as Dates, Prunes, Raisins, etc., or 1 Tin Fruit, such as Peaches, Pears, etc., or 1 Tin Pudding, such as Apple, Treacle, Creamed Rice, etc.;
1. Tin Jam, or Marmalade, or Syrup, or Honey;
1 Tin Margarine;
1 Tin Cold Meat, such as Ham and Beef Roll, Galantine, Pressed Beef, etc.;
1 Tin Hot Meat, such as Curried Mutton, Minced Steak, Steak and Tomato Pudding, etc.;
1 Tin Milk;
2 Bars Sugar;
1 Packet Tea;
1 Tin Vegetables, such as Beans, Carrots, Peas, Spinach, etc;
1 Tablet Soap, unscented;
And one or more of the following:
Cocoa;
Condiments;
Oatmeal;
Pancake batter;
Sweets;
Yeatex;
Meat or Fish Paste.
And other articles as available.