About the contributor

I was 6 when war started. Our teacher,Mrs Dance, told us we were at war on first day back at school, Shrivenham Berks primary C of E. There were evacuees from East Ham and their teachers. Some kids were billeted near us and we played together. Also many service children from army barracks nearby with Royal Artillery and Officer Cadet Training Unit personnel. Later 5,000 USA troops appeared. The barracks became Shrivenham American University in 1946 for 1 year then the Military college of Scwince, British and still there although expanded to include the Joint Services College.