Family duo release memoir to reveal forgotten voice of Deptford boy from WWII
A wartime memoir which sheds light on the quiet heroism of a South London boy, is set to be released on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Air Raids and RAF Days is co-authored by Helen Allinson and Della Judd, based on real wartime diaries and letters of their father and grandfather John Teague.
At just 17 years old, John was walking the bombed-out streets of Deptford during the Blitz.
He worked at Camberwell Town Hall for civil defence, tasked with requisitioning houses and rehoming 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 stitches together fragments of John’s own diary entries – transcribed by historian Ms Allinson – with family letters.
Pieced together, these artefacts reveal John’s personal journey through wartime and the anxious love and support of his parents back home.
Ms Judd said: “John was just an ordinary boy who 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 retired to Kent where he lived to the age of 100 before passing away in 2022, the book has now been refined.
Ms Allinson said: “My father had typed up some of his diaries but ended up throwing them away.
“Thankfully, we preserved many of his memories through letters and earlier drafts. It’s been a labour of love.”
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.
As VE Day commemorations remind us of the cost of peace, this book offers a first-hand account of the everyday people who kept the home front alive.
Air Raids and RAF Days published by Synjon Books and Conscious Dreams is available now via Amazon and selected retailers.
Pictured top: From left, Della Judd and Helen Allinson, co-authors of Air Raids and RAF Days (Picture: Della Judd)
