Knock Knock...Who's there?

I was between four and five when my brother and I were dragged out of bed in the middle of night. My mother put our new coats on (new clothes during the war was very rare) and I said: “Where are we going?” My mother told us she was taking us to an air raid shelter- I had never been before it was very exciting. I remember it so clearly. There was suddenly a knock on the door, my mum asked: “Who is it?” A man replied with: “It’s me.” My mother said: “Who’s me?” The same reply: “It’s me.” It was my father. I remember asking mum why she didn’t realise it was dad. The reason was she feared it was a German officer power trooper.

Five years after the war had ended my parents were still scared that the German officers would return to the house. They had been terrified for their lives and our lives for so many years that they were mentally scarred.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Krysten Hall CSV BBC Coventry and Warwickshire volunteer on behalf of Colin Walker and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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