The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War



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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

230061

Ray Crawley

Civilian

With six children in the family, rationing affected us very much as just about everything was rationed. I can remember clothes and shoes were a worry for my mum. She had to eke out the clothing coupons so one of us children had new shoes at a time, the same with clothes. We had no charity shops in those days where you can pick up clothes cheap. Food was a problem, and certain items we never saw until after the war like bananas and other fruit. As children we used to go scrumping to get apples. Meat was another problem for my mum - she would buy the cheap cuts which are not seen these days. I can't tell you of some of the things we had to eat, but we were well nourished and healthy - no junk food in those days!

The sirens were an unwelcome sound. These could be heard in the distance in London boroughs before ours went off very loudly as it was only about 200 yards away. If we were caught away from home, then we take cover as best we could. During the war my mother worked in a munitions factory, my father was unfit for service.

I have a couple of websites which have some good student information on: http://www.geocities.com/raycrawley/ww11.htmp and my evacuee page can be accessed from there.

Ray Crawley









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