North London - Memories Of An Eight Year Old

When war began I was 8 years old. I lived in North London, with my Mother, Father, and Sister who was 4 years older than I.
My Father was badly injured in the first world war so was not able to fight.

I clearly remember hearing the announcement on the wireless, "This country is now at war with Germany".
We had already been issued with gas masks, identity cards and an Anderson Shelter in the garden. My Father and a neighbour had dug a deep hole in the lawn and erected the shelter, lining the back and sides with cement, covering the outside with mud and grass.
Inside there was a wooden floor, a small mat, and two bunks across the back, two wooden chairs, and a small paraffin lamp.

Later in the war we were issued with ration books and clothing coupons, which made life very hard for my Mother who spent a lot of her day queuing for food.
Like many younger children once clothing was rationed I wore mostly my sister's 'hand me down' clothes.

The war for me was sometimes exciting, but often, very, very frightening!

Betty Abbott

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