One night in the black out

This story was submitted to the People's War site by CSV/BBC Radio Nottingham on behalf of Maureen Masters with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

One time we had an ARP warden living opposite us and during the blackout they would go around checking if they could see any light. Grandma used to go around the edge of each window checking that no light was getting through, she’d have to do that every night. Once the house was in darkness we could put the lamp on. One night the ARP man knocked on the on the door. Granddad shouted “who is it?” and the ARP shouted “you’re showing a light Jack” and Granddad said “you what? **** off there’s no light showing from this house, if you don’t go away I’ll pull your hat down over your eyes” — they had these tin hats on, they thought they were very important. We all thought we’d get in trouble. But the next night they’d be sitting in the pub together there were no grudges held.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.