'Air Raids and RAF Days' reveals a forgotten voice from WWII - a daughter and granddaughter duo publish powerful memoir based on real wartime diaries and letters.
As the world marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a remarkable and deeply personal wartime memoir is being released that sheds light on the quiet heroism of an ordinary London boy caught in extraordinary times.
Air Raids and RAF Days , co-authored by local historian Helen Allinson and her niece Della Judd, brings to life the real wartime experiences of their father and grandfather, John Teague.
At just 17 years old, John was working for the council in the bombed-out streets of London during the Blitz, helping to re-house civilians left devastated by air raids. Later, he would join the RAF as a wireless operator mechanic, having been denied his dream of becoming a pilot due to poor eyesight.
The memoir is a rich blend of John's own diary entries and letters from his parents, pieced together to reveal two parallel stories: his personal journey through wartime Europe, and the anxious love and support of his parents back home.
John loved books and wanted to study, he didn't come from wealth or privilege, but he lived through extraordinary times and we wanted to honour that. This book is about more than war. It's about resilience, love, and family.
Initially compiled as a 90th birthday gift for John, who lived to the age of 100 before passing away in 2022, the book has now been refined and released to the public, so that future generations can connect with the untold human stories of WWII.
Air Raids and RAF Days paints a vivid picture of wartime Britain—not from the front lines, but from the bombed-out boroughs of South London and European airfields. It captures the heartbreak, the humour, and the incredible strength of a generation who faced down fear with dignity.
As VE Day commemorations remind us of the cost of peace, this book offers an unfiltered, first-hand account of the everyday people who kept the home front, and hope, alive.
Air Raids and RAF Days published by Synjon Books and Conscious Dreams Publishing is available now via Amazon and selected retailers.
Helen Allinson is a Kent FHS member: 333