 |  | | | Life during wartime | There are 13 messages in this section. |
Margaret Strachan from Aberdeen. Posted 12 Mar 2002.
The scariest thing that happened to me during the war was when a bomb came through our house. We all had a lucky escape, because it actually landed in the house and spun through the rooms. I remember that the siren went at 10 the night before and it wasnt until the next morning that we were bombed. The house was freezing, so to keep warm, wed all climbed into one bed which we moved into the living room. It was the bed that saved our lives. If wed been in any other room we would have been killed.
We didn't see my dad for 3.5 years during the war. After he returned my mum was pregnant again, babies conceived during that time were known as a demob baby. My mum had received an extra ration book so she could have more milk and she hid it, until we all knew we were getting a new family member. | | |
|  | Alfie Smith from Stonehaven. Posted 23 Apr 2002.
One thing that I remember about the rationing was the fact that I never got a whole egg to myself, I just got the top off everyone elses, consequently when I eventually did get a whole egg to eat I was a bit wary of the yellow bit, so I dug it out and left it on the side of my plate, until I was persuaded that it was edible.
Then there was the sweetie rationing, a very important thing to a youngster, but although they were rationed we still shared them with our pals.
Clothes werent that important to me but I do remember the utility mark on them, like a couple of PACMEN from the computer game of today. Apart from that I dont remember much about rationing, I suppose being young I didnt have to worry about it.
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| | Jim Clarke. Posted 24 Apr 2002.
I remember vividly in 1941 I was eleven years old. I spent every evening of the war in an air-raid shelter (with three of my younger siblings) that my Father my older brother and I helped build. I was too young at age 11 to recognize the gravity of war. It was exciting each night after dinner to walk up the garden path (with a tiny torch to light the way) to the shelter.
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| | Barbara Dickson. Posted 14 Jun 2002.
As I was quite young when war started I did not understand all the misgivings war had in families. It was a feeling of excitement to us. I can remember vividly the Sunday war was declared; our air raid warden ran down the street shouting that war had started and mother trying to put on her gas mask over her steel curlers in her hair!
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| | Eric Rennie from Fraserburgh. Posted 26 Aug 2002.
I was a seven year auld bairn living in a sma toon called Fraserburgh (the Broch). My Ma was looking up towards this picture above the fireplace, it had a picture of the King and Queen, and she was saying "Dinna hae a war" as I walked into the room. I went over to her and said "dinna worry Ma, itll nae happen." She clutched me, gave me a hug and said "gae awa and play for a time."
Being seven years auld in Fraserburgh (a wee toon!) whits Ma worried about if the Germans created a war between Britain and them, who's going to bomb oor toon? Theres fishing boats, canning factories and the Toolies. All was quiet until the German bombers came over, not from the sea as expected. Before the war broke out guns were set up at the Toolies above West Rd. The German bombers knew the location of the guns. They were never shot doon because the guns that were manned were from the English that ran away at Dunkirk. They told us bairns their stories but never asked how we kids got in through the barbed wire.
The bombing intensified, School Street, Broad Street etc. to us it was exciting, we would look for parts of shrapnel bombs, for trophies.
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| | Andrew Ferguson. Posted 22 Nov 2002.
My grandfather was killed during an air raid over Fraserburgh on 5/11/1940. I am trying to find out the details for my family history. If anyone has any information or can suggest where I can look I would be very grateful, thanks.
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| | John Newman. Posted 28 Aug 2002.
I was born at 282 Duke Street and when there was an air raid we had to go to the shelter which was the slaughter house of the meat market.
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| | David Webster. Posted 3 Oct 2002.
I lived in Wick from 1939 until 1945 because it was thought it would be safer in Wick than in Fife. However it was not to be the case - Wick saw action at the local Hospital when a british plane crashed into it. A bomb exploded in Wick near the aerodrome and a German plane flew over the field at Old Wick.
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| | Archie Murphy. Posted 18 Jul 2002.
During the war I lived in the countryside near Uddingston.
There was an old coalmine area with only the overgrown pit bings remaining which were perfect playing areas and, in 1944, training sites for the army.
We knew the area like the back of our hand and used to surprise the soldiers in their camouflaged trenches. I hope that we helped to save them as they were obviously not confident in the country.
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| | Kevin Morrison. Posted 16 Sep 2002.
Hello,
I am researching holidays/leave in Scotland during World War Two. I wonder if anyone might have memories of holidays/leave taken during World War Two. The government encouraged 'stay-at-home holidays', people were encouraged to use public transport as little as possible, petrol was rationed. Parents found it difficult to get out into the countryside to visit their evacuated children. How did people spend their time-off/leave? These are some the areas I am looking at. The research is for my contribution to a book on Scotland's War. It would be really great to get some memories/views/ideas on this subject.
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| | Sophie Thain. Posted 13 Nov 2002.
Hello,
My name is Sophie Thain. I am learning about World War Two, I have learned a lot about it. On Wednesday the 13th November 2002 we are going down to a bomb shelter at Keith Primary to see what it looks like. Please send me back a message.
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| | Alfie. Posted 14 Nov 2002.
Hi Sophie,
Let me know how you get on with your visit and what you think of the shelter.
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| | andy leiper from peterhead. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
i dont know if this raid is the same,a lone german bomber
droped a bomb on 20th feb.1943 11 year old lawrece mckay kerr was killed,
i have the whole story about
this raid the plane had just made a drop to agents at the
loch of strathbeg crimond
there is much more of this story
kindes regards andy
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