An Unexpected Experience (Battle of Britain)

Dear Journal,
July 11, 1940

Yesterday was a disaster. My left leg is wounded. I am so thirsty and hungry. It is so dark in the subway and I do not know where to go. Everyone is running around and screaming. Some are badly hurt and are bleeding everywhere. I do not know anyone. All I know is that my husband, William Smith, is out there fighting for our country and to stay alive for this family. I am so scared for him. What will happen if he does not come back to us? In addition, you know what the worst part is? I lost my son, Jayden Smith. Wherever he is, I hope he is okay and I hope to be reunited with him again. All I want at this point is my family complete again. My husband and my son are everything to me and they are all I have.

Abigail Smith



Dear Journal,
July 12, 1940

Two days ago, at about one o’clock in the afternoon, I was feeding my three-year-old son. The alarm was going off at this time. But again, it had been going off all day so I was a bit ignoring it by that time. Then I heard IT. I heard a high pitch sound from about eight hundred feet away. Then it started getting louder and louder and the ground my son and I were on started shaking. I started to panic but I tried to calm down for my son. I grabbed Jayden, a backpack, and took some clothes and food. As I walked out of our house, everyone was trying to evacuate. Kids were crying and mothers were trying to gather as much belongings as they can. Determined to save my son and I, I carried Jayden and started running to the underground subway. As I hurried down the street, it was very frightening to think my son and I can never see another day. However, as I was running to the subway, I tripped and hit my head on a rock from a falling building. The next thing I knew I am here in a subway by myself without my son. I told myself that I have to find him soon or something bad can happen to him. Relieving me, as I was trying to look for Jayden around the subway this morning, I found him in a corner all alone crying. I ran to him and hugged him like I never had before. I felt alive at that moment again and felt more secure with my son. Talking to a man I met down here, I learned that the Germans are dropping blitz, or bombs, all around our city of London. In addition, since Hitler, the Nazi’s leader, succeeded at taking over France, he turned his attention to us deciding to take over Britain too. At that moment, all I can think about was my husband fighting out there. Assuring me, one of William’s friends, whose brother is fighting with William in the army, is with my son and I right now. He said he received a message that his brother and my husband survived the war in France and the evacuation back to Britain called, Evacuation of Dunkirk. I hope everything goes well and William can make it back to us safely. Lastly, I hope to hear about my parents soon. I wonder if they had enough time to escape from our mansion in London. I hope they are still alive.

Abigail Smith



Dear Journal,
July 14, 1940

Life in the subway is getting a little better. I am able to work together with other mothers to cook for our kids. In addition, there are nurses, like me, who are able to take care of those who are wounded and those who need assistance. When it is a little safe out in the city, the young men, who are a small part of our group, would go out and try to look for food and other resources. Additionally, even though there is a big chaos happening outside, it seems like we are quite safe in her. Adding more hope, our prime minister, Churchill, continues to encourage us not to give up using the radio. He explains that we shall never surrender and we will fight anywhere if we have to just to keep our freedom and our democracy. I truly believe in this and I believe we will walk away from this war still having our freedom. Getting more news from the outside, Hitler launched Operation Sea Lion, where Luftwaffe, or German air forces, are sent out to bomb aircraft factories and of course, different cities here in Britain. The Germans will not succeed at this but I just hope my family and I can get through this experience together.

Abigail Smith



Dear Journal,
September 23, 1940

It has been a couple of months ago since the first day the Germans bombed London. Right now, it feels like it is all over. Finally, my husband is able to come back to us and visit for a couple of days. He informed me that they were able to withstand Hitler’s invasion. Even though Britain is still currently fighting Germany, Operation Sea Lion failed and Hitler gave up at trying to take over Britain. As this incident occurred, it proves one thing. Germany and Hitler is beatable. The allies, which are the United States, Britain, and USSR, have hope at beating and stopping Hitler with his evil deeds that he started across Europe, especially with the Jews. I feel lucky that until now I still have my life along with my son. My only hope is for this costly and huge war to end soon and send my husband back to his family. I have hope.

Abigail Smith