Night of fear in rhyme and reason

Night of Fear and Terror

The year was 1940,

The 12th day of December.

We'd had a happy day at school,

Made trimmings, I remember.

The night was cold and frosty,

A full moon shining bright.

How could we know what was in store,

For us, that fateful night?

At seven, the wailing sirens

Gave all of us the warning,

A night of fear and terror

Would be with us till morning.

"That's a dog-fight in the air,

We must get out of here",

Said dad, then grabbed both mum and me.

The noise filled us with fear.

The screaming of the falling bombs,

Then every mighty crunch,

They're hell bent on destroying us

Old Adolf's evil bunch.

Lucky us, we did survive

That 12th day of December,

The night of fear and terror,

Those still living will remember.

Beryl Heathcote,Thopre House Rise, Sheffield S8.

Beryl's poem is too long to print in full here. But if you want to read the complete version go to www.thestar.co.uk/memories

There you will also find many amusing and moving accounts of our readers' younger days growing up in South Yorkshire. Why not share your memories with readers? Write to The Editor at the addresses on this page.