Manchester Blitz

A Memory of Salford.

'ROLL OUT THE BARREL'.  I REMEMBER BEING TAUGHT THAT SONG WHILE THE BLITZ WAS GOING ON BY MY GRAN.  WE LIVED IN ZEBRA STREET, HIGHER BROUGHTON.  WE WERE IN THE AIR RAID SHELTER IN OUR YARD WHEN ONE NIGHT WHEN THE SHELTER SHOOK AND THREW US ALL OVER.  WE FOUND OUT NEXT MORNING THAT WALNUT STREET JUST ROUND THE CORNER HAD BEEN FLATTENED BY A PARACHUTE MINE.  THE ONE HAPPY EVENT IN THE BLITZ WAS THE BIRTH OF MY SISTER MAVIS.
THERE WERE MANY THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT PERIOD.  BEING EVACUATED TO FLEETWOOD.  DAD COMING HOME FROM DUNKIRK.  MY UNCLE TOM BEING KILLED IN NORMANDY.  MY GREAT GRANDMA BEING BOMBED OUT IN GERALD ROAD, LOWER BROUGHTON AND SURVIVING,TO LIVE FOR MANY YEARS LATER.  IF ANYTHING IT MADE ME GROW UP VERY FAST AND I NOW REALIZE WHAT A DIFFERENT BREED OF PEOPLE THEY WERE THEN.

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