| My lasting memory of the war is that I believed the war was a natural phenomenon, so when VE day came around I had no idea as to what this really meant. With my mother I left London when the bombing became severe and travelled in crowded train, corridor lined with troops, up north to Paisley to live with my Grandparents. Apparently our GP had told my mother that I was becoming traumatised with the noise of bombing and had stopped eating and sleeping. So although we managed to escape the results of direct bombing, it did have consequences for me as a very young child.
I have often wondered if there are others of my age who experienced similar, because I reckon many children suffered and were forgotten. With the knowledge and awareness there is now about hidden traumatic experiences I am certain there were lasting consequences. Has there been any research done on this I wonder.
Then of course having reached Scotland there followed the bombing of Clydebank, I recall being held in my fathers arms looking out of the sitting room window, the sky a vivid red as the fired raged. Odd the small cameos of memories that remain forever. I was wearing a blue hooded dressing gown my grandmother made out an old dressing gown she had.
Eventually when the celebrations arrived on VE day my father promised me he would wake me up so I could watch the celebratory firework display over the Campsie hills - I slept through it all!
Submitted by Joanna
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