Memories of the War - Sheila Thorpe Fowler

<p dir="ltr">Tunbridge, Kent during the war. 30 miles from London - saw it on fire.<br>Thought it was cool. Too young to fear. 7-13 during the war. "Always cold and hungry." Very dark.<br>Tunbridge, Kent during the war. 30 miles from London - saw it on fire.<br>Thought it was cool. Too young to fear. 7-13 during the war. "Always cold and hungry." Very dark.</p><p>Spitfires and other planes coming and going from Biggin Hill, Kent. Parents were fire watchers in the evenings.</p><p>Dad was also an Air Raid Warden and a telephonist too. Father was in WW1 but never talked about it with Sheila. POW in WW1 in Germany.<br>Uncle was in the war, but again never really spoke about it. Too horrific to really talk about it. </p><p>A little boy was evacuated from London (neighbour) who cried all the time. Air raid shelters often during school. Lessons went on downstairs. Teachers had all come out of retirement. </p><p>POW camp for Italians, many of whom didn't want to fight really anyway. Many stayed and married locals. For example, the Hasa pilot integrated quite well into society. </p><p>Grandfather owned a lot of land and had to produce food. Employed Italian POW. Sheila's Dad captured a very young, frightened Italian pilot.</p><p>WW2 generation was very tough - the way society was. That was the generation that did not want to consider that their children may face similar hardship. An egg, 20g of cheese a week. Sardines. Tougher - hard on children. No idea when it would end - just continued. </p><p>Aged 4 plus walked a mile to school. Every day until end of school. Bank St. Tunbridge, then bus to Tunbridge Wells aged 13. School lunch, no school meals. - Went to British restaurants. Awful food. Popped up in the war.<br>Spitfires and other planes coming and going from Biggin Hill, Kent. <br>Parents were fire watchers in the evenings.</p><p>Dad was also an Air Raid Warden and a telephonist too.<br>Father was in WW1 but never talked about it with Sheila. POW in WW1 in Germany.<br>Uncle was in the war, but again never really spoke about it. Too horrific to really talk about it. </p><p>Little boy was evacuated from London (neighbour) who cried all the time.</p><p>Air raid shelters often during school. Lessons went on downstairs. Teachers had all come out of retirement. </p><p>PoW camp for Italians, many who didn't want to fight really anyway. Many stayed and married local. E.g. Hasa pilot, integrated quite well into society. <br>Grandfather owned a lot of land and had to produce food. Employed Italian PoW. <br>Sheila's Dad captured a very young, frightened Italian pilot.<br>WW2 generation very tough - way society was. That was generation that did not want to consider that their children may face similar hardship.<br>An egg, 20g of cheese a week. Sardines.<br>Tougher - hard on children.</p><p>No idea when it would end - just continued. <br>Aged 4 plus walked a mile to school. Every day until end of school. Bank St. Tunbridge, then bus to Tunbridge Wells aged 13.<br>School lunch, no school meals. - Went to British restaurants. Awful food. Popped up in the war. <br></p>