Day to Day

In the country we enjoyed a cold snowy winter with sliding on frozen ponds and inches of snow for many weeks. We shopped in Southend and Westcliff, where we saw soldiers being drilled and many boats collecting off the pier head waiting for ‘convoys’ to sail. We still heard noises in the air and were told about ‘mine-laying’. There were always a few spitfires awaiting ‘red alerts’ at the flying club hut, where Southend Airport now stands. We all carried torches as we had no streetlights and never a chink of light showed from a house.

Although there was little bombing over England, the war was going on and more people were being drafted into the army, navy, airforce and coal mines as well as women into certain kinds of factories. Many people had their offices moved to the seaside and country districts. The BBC broadcast many programs from outside London and Civil Servants were sent to other places e.g. Harrogate in Yorkshire. Hospitals also moved many departments to buildings in safer areas. In London itself, theaters re-opened and concerts were given because many other people were visiting London and needed them.

During springtime, we heard of Hitler’s progress in overrunning the countries of Europe and were dismayed at the speed of the changes taking place. One of my boys, whose dad was a R.A.F. pilot, announced that he had come home. I asked how long his leave was to be and was told that he was home for good – they had all come home! Shortly after that we knew that our ally Belgium was not able to fight any more!

We had already seen the men practicing in ‘The Home Guard’ and the Auxiliary Fire Service. Now we heard that people with motor boats and yachts of a certain size were asked to register. Boats were being got ready for sea in the boatyards and moorings along the R. Crouch and R. Thames. We had only radio in those days and not much news was given. There was a slogan on posters which said "Be like Dad, keep Mum" and everyone knew that silence was important. In Hockley, we now heard night patrols of bren gun carriers going round our country roads especially watching the marshes in case of air born invaders. On the still nights of May the song of the nightingales had a background of far distant gunfire from Northern France. (I understand it had something to do with the bouncing of sound waves on to the hill).