Air-Raid Drills and Rationing: A Child's Memories of the War
Jane Mowat Martin grew up on Chicora Ave. in Toronto. She remembers the air-raid drills that happened regularly, the loud sirens and the searchlights scanning the skies.
Homes had to be dark, and a warden on each street would knock on a door if a light was on – which happened only occasionally at a house a few doors away from where Jane lived. She was just 8 when World War II ended, but she still recalls food rationing and Victory Gardens. Jane lived at 48 Chicora Ave., the warden at 35 Chicora, and Mrs. Kyle, who sometimes had her light on, at 42 Chicora.
Jane, in the hat, and her very first friend and neighbour, Jessie Balsillie. Jessie married choral conductor Elmer Iseler and managed the Elmer Iseler Singers.
Testing the air raid sirens. (Photo: Wartimecanada.ca)