Memories of the Second World War

By Susie Kearley

This book is a collection of interviews with people who remember the Second World War. None of them were on the front line, but some were serving their country as Naval Wrens, one was a Royal Air Force Bomber Command Cartographer, and one was posted at Bletchley Park, involved in the code breaking activities there.Among the other interviewees are a nurse who cared for the people injured in the blasts during the London bombings. She did the best she could, with rationed supplies, working in temporary prefabricated wards.Another contributor, Maureen, who just a little girl at the time, will never forget a US pilot, nicknamed 'Sparky', who sacrificed his life to save her small English town. His B-17 Bomber plane hit trouble in a storm, and he guided the stricken plane away from the buildings before ditching it into a field where all the bombs on board exploded, ending his life.Many of those interviewed were children in the 1940s They remember the excitement of war, the intrigue of the ruins, which they used as playgrounds, the horrid smells of the gas masks, and the sounds of the air raid sirens. One was evacuated to the countryside and tells the tale of a lonely little girl entering a frightening new world of wonder.This collection is dedicated to Reg Barnes, a war-time farmer in Lincolnshire, who shared his story with me, and saw it published in a couple of magazines before he died later that year, in 2014.The stories go as far afield as the occupation of Jersey in the Channel Islands. What was it was like being a child growing up in that repressive environment, surrounded by German soldiers? Now you can read all about it.These stories, or a variation on the themes, have been printed in a variety of publications including Military History Monthly, Lincolnshire Life, Best of British, Chat, Chicken Soup for the Soul and some other titles in a range of formats and perspectives.These are all great stories of triumph over adversity in a country torn apart by war - yet brought together in solidarity. Now indulge your curiosity and enjoy a good read.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1507568010
• ISBN13: 9781507568019
• Release Date: January 2015
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 73 Pages
• Weight: 0.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.2" x 5.0"