When the Second World War was declared on 3 September 1939, Northolt became one of the main airports defending London and the suburbs.

Food rationing, air raid shelters built under school playgrounds, learning how to use a gas mask by children aged five upwards (the Mickey Mouse gas masks) became routine; air raids during the day and the noise of the ack-ack guns became a daily routine. Above all else, especially loud noises during a night-time air raid were experienced by parents, usually mothers, and children of all ages. Fathers were in the military, serving abroad.

Then there were the children who were evacuees. We were lucky; our mother came with us to Derbyshire. Many children, accompanied by their brothers and sisters, and even children who were alone, were sent to places hundreds of miles away. These were brave children indeed.

This little book was written for grandparents and great-grandparents, for teachers and students, and historians of WW2. I hope it will encourage them to let their grandchildren and great-grandchildren know what happened during that time. We must never forget.