The beginning of the Battle of Britain, from a child's perspective.

1940
©2006, Basil Sands

Mummy?
Look, mummy, up in the sky.
So many planes.

The blue sky is filled with planes
So high up they looked like tiny birds
Loud birds
They sound like thunder that never stops

We are going to the London docks
To bring daddy’s supper
He is working late tonight

Yesterday was my birthday
September 6th, 1940
I am five years old now
Daddy says I am a big boy
I see Daddy’s work place ahead
A big tall building with lot’s of windows

Mum is getting upset at me
Because I won’t walk faster
I keep looking up at the planes

Mum, look
They are laying eggs in the sky
Won’t the eggs break if they fall so far?

Mum picks me up
She has a scary look
I don’t like her face that way

She tries to run
But she is wearing her tall shoes
She can’t run well in them

The eggs do break
Very loudly they break

I see fire at daddy’s work
All the windows are gone

Mum! What’s happening?

Eggs break near us
Lightening and fire come out of these eggs

Mum and I are laying on a broken house
I am sleepy, everything looks wiggly
A man picks me up,
Mum is still sleeping, she’s not angry anymore