Memories of the war years in South Tyneside, from those who lived through it

Memories of life in the war years have been shared with the Gazette by the very people who lived through it all.
How it all started. The front page of the Gazette on the day war was declared.How it all started. The front page of the Gazette on the day war was declared.
How it all started. The front page of the Gazette on the day war was declared.

Thanks to the Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum group and the help of Norman Dunn, who runs it, we have been given an insight on everyday life during the Second World War, and how the current battle with the coronavirus pandemic compares to it.

George Watt went to Jarrow Central School and later lived in Gateshead but he remembered the drama of an air raid.

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“At the time, I thought life had always been like this. I now see things through adult eyes and have to make judgments myself instead of being comforted and reassured by my mother,” he said.

Janette Hilton of Living History North East.Janette Hilton of Living History North East.
Janette Hilton of Living History North East.

“When the siren sounded an attack, she would tell me not to worry as the “all clear” would soon chase the nasties away. She was always right. The nasties always did go away and we could come out from under the table and as she hugged me things became good again. No one gives me such assured comfort today.

“This enemy is much more terrifying than that opposing us in during the Second World War. It is non negotiable. It cannot be beaten into submission, it has to be eradicated.

“During the Second World War, the vast majority of the population played an active part in defeating the enemy. Either as members of the armed forces or working in aid of them.

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“Today we play a very passive role and can feel almost helpless as the action of the virus continues. Those of us who live through these times will have endured something much more difficult than the Second World War. But we will remember with pride how we gave our support.

“Each Thursday evening at 8 o’clock we opened our doors and windows and clapped our hands in appreciation of the new few – those who took great risks on our behalf. Those who are in the front line.

“Nurses, doctors, cleaners, deliverymen. We applauded those who complied with the need to self isolate and were unable to hug members of their families. In years to come, we will remember them too.”

Norman Forster recalled: “I was born 1935. Tried smoking cigarettes by picking up the fag ends when the shipyard workers threw them away.

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“Ate their left over bait. Drank out of lemonade bottles shared between a gang of us. No hand sanitisers, only carbolic soap. Must have built up a good immune system.”

The similarities, and differences, between the fights in the Second World War and in 2020 have also been highlighted by Janette Hilton, the Managing Director of Living History North East.

We asked Janette if the UK’s struggles 75 years apart could be compared and they certainly can in some regards.

“The similarities are that the nation unified against a common foe although it is a lot less tangible now than in the Second World War,” said Janette.

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“In the Second World War, there was an expectation that as soon as war was declared the planes would come over and bomb. But there was a quiet lull period where less happened and people were wondering if it was not going to be as bad as expected.

“But when the bombing started in 1941, it became clear that it was going to be difficult for everyone.”

The differences in 2020 are that the enemy is an invisible one that we don’t comprehend and perhaps the comparison is really with the Spanish flu.

“But I suppose the spirit of the people is the factor that we see. People want to help and people want to be a part of the community and want to make a contribution.

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“They want to recognise what people are doing like those in the NHS.”

Other similarities include queues for food, although the shortages experienced by Sunderland people in the Second World War were much more severe.

A big difference, though, is the experience facing children in the two eras.

Today’s youngsters can barely venture outside. But during the Second World War, it was a different story.

They would go out and collect shrapnel after air raids, said Janette.