I was born and raised in Portsmouth and it was quite hectic during the BoB with the Naval Base being a prime target. Some of us would play on old bullet riddled timber cabin cruisers, which had obviously been used in the Dunkirk evacuation. They were out on the mud flats between the shore and Whale Island wher the RN Gunnery School was established: I was in one on my own when the air raid siren went off. The tide was about to come in and the boat would fill with water and the mud would become too soft to walk across. I had always been told to stay where I was when the siren went. Luckily the action was short and sharp with the massive floating dock being the prime target. I had a grandstand view as it was only half a mile away. Once more it was a lovely sunny day and everything was crystal clear. I can’t ever remember it raining during the war.

Mo