Videos tagged with bombing

Life before, during and after WW2 in South London

Life before, during and after WW2 in South London

Beryl has lived in Rotherhithe all of her life. Before WW2 started she lived with her mother and father in a town house with a large garden, but the council knocked the houses down to make room for a large estate of flats, where she has lived ever since… During the war Beryl was evacuated to Hove and did not return to London until the worst of the war was over. She talks of how childhood and the area was so very different back then, it was a simple life where children played in the streets, caught trams to school and women never worked after they were married. Beryl went to work in the city when she was 18 for an accountancy firm. Women never worked in accountancy before the war, but after all the men were sent away to fight the women had to take over from them. She proceeded to work successfully in the industry for 42 years...

Growing up in Rothrhithe during WW2 (Part 1)

Growing up in Rothrhithe during WW2 (Part 1)

Vai Newman was born and has lived within the Rotherhithe area all of her life and experienced life there during the Second World War. Vai recounts some of the strict rules and regulations people adhered to during the war, life during the blitz and her schooldays. Vai also gives a vivid account of how different Rotherhithe was back then, with its dangerous riversides and mainly industrial wharfs that surrounded the area.

Wartime spirit and children's games and activities

Wartime spirit and children's games and activities

Alex was born and raised in Hackney, East London. He was about seven years old when the second world war broke out. In the first part of his interview he recalls the games he and his friends from the neighborhood used to play to pass the time, and the typical activities and behaviour of war-time children in the 1940s and 50s. Alex also talks about the sense of community that was so prevalent during such hard times, everyone helped one another wherever possible and this was something that was passed down to even very young children. He remembers doing everything he could to help out his less fortunate neighbours and the elderly...

Working in the RAF in the 1940s (Part 2) - Coming Home

Working in the RAF in the 1940s (Part 2) - Coming Home

In the concluding part of his interview Fred Folkard speaks of the last days of the World War 2 whilst he was working in the Far East in the RAF. He recalls what it was like coming back to London after so many years and being reunited with his family and girlfriend.

Working in the RAF in the 1940s

Working in the RAF in the 1940s

Fred Folkard served in the RAF from 1941 working as an engine-man. He was shipped out straight away to Far East and travelled to many places including Casablanca, Freetown and Bombay, the whole time his family not knowing having no idea where he was. In this interview Fred recounts his experiences during the Second World War and even tells of a near-miss experience where he almost died in a plane crash in China.