Wartime Memories - cont'd

Some nights my mother and some of our family would go down the shelters, and my cousin and i would have lots of fun jumping on people who were asleep - then we would run off as they shouted at us.

I wasn't scared during air raids if my father was with us - but he was in the ARP and sometimes he had to be out and about to report any fires or bombs dropping.

There was some sadness, though, as one of the Italian POWs who were stationed at Calrose lost their life trying to rescue an 11 year old girl who had got in to difficulties in the River Irwell which ran through our village. She managed to get out but he srowned. How his mother must have felt, as the war was nearky over, if I remember correctly.

The time that the soldiers lived in the village was very happuy and carefree for me, and I shall remember those days with a smile for the rest of my life. This is despite all the adness that followed for other families: fortunatewly my two brothers came safely back.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.