Music of the War Years - Listeners' Memories

Chris Parker described how letting off a firecracker brought back his Granny's memory of being strafed by a ME109

The story of a Polish man who was conscripted into the Germany navy, serving most of the war in U-boats, but after capture by the British in 1944, volunteered to join the Polish Free Navy.

John Dummer describes VJ Day celebrations and the relief that WW2 was finally over

Gary Stevens describes how he and his family narrowly escaped death from a German 'doodle bug' and how he and his friends played in the ruins of houses on bomb sites

Mary Roberts describes personally what it was like to live with the constant threat of air raids. She was recorded by her son Mitch JohnsonYou can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years

John Dummer describes the sense of relief everyone felt after VE Day and how life slowly returned to normal.You can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years

My Dad, Phil Pearce, narrowly escaped death during a daylight bombing raid by the Luftwaffe on the Supermarine factory in Southampton, during which many of his fellow workers were killed by a direct hit on their air-raid shelter.You can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years

Ron Davis described how his family were bombed out of their Southampton home and his subsequent evacuation to the country.You can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years

John Dummer's Dad worked for the Admiralty in London and when he and off duty as a Fire Warden. John describes how he and his parents attended the VE Day celebrations in central London.You can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years

Ray Wood was only 2 years old when WW2 started and lived in Wallasea, a mile from the docks where his father worked. He has vivid memories of rationing and taking cod liver oil as a child.You can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years

Peter Tomlinson and his parents are bombed out of their Walthamstow flat and move in with his Aunty in Ponders End, opposite the Royal Small Arms factory. As a result, most of his nights are spent in an air-raid shelter. You can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years

A listener describes life with her 4 siblings and their mother in a rural location in Cornwall. The local kids would shout "Don't fight with them, they be vaccies!"You can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years

After narrowly missing death from a doodlebug during the blitz, John Dummer was evacuated from his home in Croydon to Huddersfield. He also tells how an uncle who was a member of the crew of a Lancaster bomber narrowly misses death after bailing out of their damaged aircraft off the coast of England.You can listen to the complete series of Music of the War Years programmes at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/music-of-the-war-years