Memories of the War - Sheila Thorpe Fowler
Creators: name: Project Team, Their Finest Hour
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 430304
subject: British history
classificationCode: 430308
subject: European history (excl. British, classical Greek and Roman)
classificationCode: 430316
subject: International history

description: Tunbridge, Kent during the war. 30 miles from London - saw it on fire.<br>Thought it was cool. Too young to fear. 7-13 during the war. "Always cold and hungry." Very dark.<br>Tunbridge, Kent during the war. 30 miles from London - saw it on fire.<br>Thought it was cool. Too young to fear. 7-13 during the war. "Always cold and hungry." Very dark.Spitfires and other planes coming and going from Biggin Hill, Kent. Parents were fire watchers in the evenings.Dad was also an Air Raid Warden and a telephonist too. Father was in WW1 but never talked about it with Sheila. POW in WW1 in Germany.<br>Uncle was in the war, but again never really spoke about it. Too horrific to really talk about it. A little boy was evacuated from London (neighbour) who cried all the time. Air raid shelters often during school. Lessons went on downstairs. Teachers had all come out of retirement. POW camp for Italians, many of whom didn't want to fight really anyway. Many stayed and married locals. For example, the Hasa pilot integrated quite well into society. Grandfather owned a lot of land and had to produce food. Employed Italian POW. Sheila's Dad captured a very young, frightened Italian pilot.WW2 generation was very tough - the way society was. That was the generation that did not want to consider that their children may face similar hardship. An egg, 20g of cheese a week. Sardines. Tougher - hard on children. No idea when it would end - just continued. Aged 4 plus walked a mile to school. Every day until end of school. Bank St. Tunbridge, then bus to Tunbridge Wells aged 13. School lunch, no school meals. - Went to British restaurants. Awful food. Popped up in the war.<br>Spitfires and other planes coming and going from Biggin Hill, Kent. <br>Parents were fire watchers in the evenings.Dad was also an Air Raid Warden and a telephonist too.<br>Father was in WW1 but never talked about it with Sheila. POW in WW1 in Germany.<br>Uncle was in the war, but again never really spoke about it. Too horrific to really talk about it. Little boy was evacuated from London (neighbour) who cried all the time.Air raid shelters often during school. Lessons went on downstairs. Teachers had all come out of retirement. PoW camp for Italians, many who didn't want to fight really anyway. Many stayed and married local. E.g. Hasa pilot, integrated quite well into society. <br>Grandfather owned a lot of land and had to produce food. Employed Italian PoW. <br>Sheila's Dad captured a very young, frightened Italian pilot.<br>WW2 generation very tough - way society was. That was generation that did not want to consider that their children may face similar hardship.<br>An egg, 20g of cheese a week. Sardines.<br>Tougher - hard on children.No idea when it would end - just continued. <br>Aged 4 plus walked a mile to school. Every day until end of school. Bank St. Tunbridge, then bus to Tunbridge Wells aged 13.<br>School lunch, no school meals. - Went to British restaurants. Awful food. Popped up in the war. <br>