Deadly Moonlight

'This story was submitted to the People's War site by Rick Allden of the CSV BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Action Desk on behalf of Joyce O'Kane and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions'.

Deadly Moonlight

In 1940 the kindly face of the Man in the Moon, with his transitory smile, who comforted me as I lay awake wondering who I was, had been usurped by the perfidious Lady of the Moon “La Belle Dame Sans Merci”, whose brilliant eyes shone on our little isle, exposing it to the watchful enemy who sought to destroy us. No detail would escape. Shut each shutter; turn out any light. The cruel lady would turn her treacherous gaze on everything. The old Thames, meandering through the metropolis, would turn to silver, gleaming a path for the prowling bomber to wreak its havoc on the sleeping city.

And as we passed each other in the friendship of mutual need, heads would be shaken — “Ah yes, a bomber’s moon” - and we wished her beauty would be hidden under her veil of clouds.

This story was donated to the People’s War website by Joyce O'Kane, of the Leam Writers. If you would like to find out more about Leam Writers call 0845 900 5 300.

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