大象传媒

I was brought up on the Fylde coast of Lancashire, near Blackpool. In 1941 my father died, and my mother had the opportunity to have me educated at the Royal Masonic School at Bushey, in Hertfordahire. I went there in September 1942.

We were about 15 Miles north of London, and could often hear air raids which were taking place there. In 1944 the Germans began using their terror weapons, flying bombs and rockets.

Flying bombs, which the British press christened 'Doodle-bugs' could be heard coming. They were powered by a ram-jet engine which kept them flying straight and level. When the engine cut out we knew that the bomb was about to crash land and explode.

My school had a 100 foot clock tower over the administrative buildings. The main gates were off The Avenue, Bushey, and it was about 100yards from these to the clock tower. One afternoon I was walking from the gates towards the entrance door under the tower, when I heard a flying bomb approaching. I stopped, scared, but aware, and waited to see what would happen, knowing that while I could still hear the thing I was safe. After a moment or two I saw the small aircraft. It was lower than the top of the tower and, still motoring strongly it flew in front of me, and went on over the school grounds. Seconds later, the engine stopped and, with heart in mouth, I waited. The bonb was now beyond my sight but nonetheless I heard the explosion when it came down, and saw the plume of black smoke as it destroyed a house about a quarter of a mile down the road towards Bushey.

I felt I had experienced almost a 'near-death' experience, and still often think about it.

I was fourteen when this happened and, happily the war was ovber by the time I became a national serviceman in the army in 1950

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