There were different types of government-provided air-raid shelters issued during WWII. However, the version depicted here – is very close to that issued to my mother’s family (surnamed ‘Gibson’) who lived in Lewisham, South London. During September, 1940, the Nazi Germany ‘Luftwaffe’ blanket-bombed East London and killed and wounded thousands of British people. During the entire 18-months of the ‘Blitz’ – the Luftwaffe inflicted 40,000 casualties in London and 70,000 all across the UK! My family lived in a three-storied house situated at 28 Horton Street – with a generation living on each floor. The family surnames were ‘Indge’, ‘Gibson’ and ‘Coveley’.
I am told that my family purchased their Anderson Shelter and had to dig a large hole in the back-garden so that the Shelter could be buried in the ground. The roof, frame and door was constructed of corrugated iron with blast-absorbing turf laid across the roof – and a layer of wood reinforcing the external walls. With three sides protected by the soil it was buried within – the fourth-side was left ‘open’ as this was the door that was entered down a slope of stairs – which ever was chosen. When the door was closed – sandbags were stacked up against the inside of the door by those sheltering inside.
Lewisham was hit throughout September, 1940, and I believe my family home in Fordyce Road was hit around September 15th. All the family members – numbering 5 (with my maternal grandmother being pregnant at the time carrying my mother’s elder sister – ‘Sandra’) – took refuge in the Shelter. As the bombs were dropping – and getting nearer – my maternal grandfather (Arthur Gibson) kept piling-up the sandbags around the door! Just as he lifted-up the last sandbag – their home was hit and obliterated outside! The door of the Anderson Shelter was ‘blown-in’ and my grandfather was flung backwards – with the sandbags absorbing the blast! When my family emerged – not only was their house completely gone – but so was most of the neighbourhood!
My family gathered together what belongings they had and were directed to the train station to go to Oxford to live – where one of their relatives was living. Many thousands of other people from East London headed to the caves situated in Chislehurst and created a subterranean city that lasted for the duration of WWII! Meanwhile, after establishing themselves in Oxford, my maternal grandfather – Arthur Gibson – joined the Royal Navy Patrol Service and served in the North Atlantic, whilst my Great Uncle joined the Coldstream Guards and guarded Buckingham Palace. After the war, my mother (Diane Gibson – now Diane Wyles) was born in 1948 – a chain of events initiated by Hitler which eventually led to myself being born in Oxford!
Quoted From: Forest Hill with Shotover – A Portrait (1983), Forest Hill’s Women’s Institute, (1983), Chapter 5 – The Second World War, Pages 28-29
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 