大象传媒

This story has been submitted to the People's War site by Simon Harris and has been added to the website on behalf of Brian Batley with his permission and they fully understand the site's terms and conditions,

During the blitz in London my family was living at my grandfather鈥檚 pub in Woolwich. One night and around midnight we were all woken by a terrific bang. Outside the courtyard was covered in dirt and there was a crack that ran up the wall to the bedrooms. Everyone assumed the damage had been caused by a small bomb.

A year or so later, prompted by the explosion of a delayed action bomb, the bomb disposal team began to check on other known bomb sites around London. The experts told my grandfather that they thought an unexploded bomb had fallen nearby and, whilst he disagreed, he did say he would treat them all with a good drink if they found one. The experts were right and they duly dug up a 1000kg bomb. The occupants of the flats next door and our pub were told to evacuate but we all refused. The feeling was that we had lived with it for so long and would not move now. We watched the bomb being defused before it was eventually taken away.

My grandfather gave the bomb disposal team their well deserved drinks. He always said he was lucky and I suppose we all must have been or I would not be telling you this story now.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.