I was billeted at a house in College Street, Petersfield together with two other thirteen year old Emanuel School pupils. In 1944 College Street was part of the London-Portsmouth A3 main road which was being heavily used by the military traffic on their way to assembly points for the invasion of France. The non-stop stream of vehicles going through Petersfield comprised mainly tanks and half track vehicles with the result that the tarmac became thoroughly churned up, and the constant traffic jam caused school lessons to be suspended for a few days.
Increasingly the tanks were remaining stationery outside our house for long periods. Our bedroom (circled in the photo).
I was about the same height from the ground as a soldier standing on the turret of a tank. Because we were close enough to be able to hand a tray of mugs though our bedroom window, we had the idea that we could give tea to the tank personnel while they were stopped,– and so our D Day adventure began. We found ourselves running up and down to the kitchen with fresh mugs of tea and then waiting by the window ready to grab the tray of empty mugs as soon as the tanks started to move again.
It certainly does not seem like yesterday, but equally it does not feel like eighty years ago!
I thought it might be of interest! Best wishes Ron
PS All Members…Readers’ Letters are always encouraged. Thanks to Ron for this timely and unique memory.