Boy in the Blitz: The 1940 Diary of Colin Perry

by Colin Perry

The diary of Colin Albert Perry, born in Camberwell in 1922. When war broke out on September 3rd, 1939 he was a junior clerk with the California Standard Oil Company in the Royal Bank of Canada in the heart of London. His diary ended in November 1940 when he joined the Merchant Navy as a ship's writer.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Camilla Tilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very vivid account of the two first months of the Blitz, retold from the viewpoint of a rather idealistic 18-year-old office boy. You can not get closer to the Blitz than this in the year 2011. Colin Perry was a very curious young man who did not run for shelter when the first bombs started to fall. Instead he went up on the roof to watch the "spectacle" in front of his eyes. He did not get frightened by the fact that he could die at any moment. Instead he thought the excitement was thrilling. In his diary he bicycles around to see the damage after each bomb raid and vividly describes what has happened. He never ceases to be amazed at his fellow Londoners wit and courage. He wants to read the funny comments the shop owners put up after having their shops ripped apart. He loves to see people go on as nothing is happening when the sirens sound. And he despises seeing people take shelter. He is indeed doing what the newspapers encouraged everyone to do, stay out of the shelter as long as possible, only go there if the bombing gets really bad, never when the sirens have not gone off.
In between his descriptions of being bombed, he thinks about girls that show him no interest and the disappointment of being turned down by the RAF because he has too little schooling. And meeting Churchill is the highlight of his young life.
Truly an educational read on the Blitz spirit. And it is a rather unusual diary since this young man wrote very well and was well versed in literature.

[Bert Armington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the mentality and spirit of the British during the Battle of Britain. This diary of an 18-year-old boy is exciting and tense. Life goes on with bombs blasting, and Colin polishes his shoes and presses his shirt and rides his bicycle through the wreckage of the Blitz. The kid is amazing in his perspective and enthusiasm, certainly showing potential as a writer. I would love to find some reflections from later in his life.

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a charming read of the surviving diary extracts of a young man, working as an office boy in London in 1940.