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We lived in London in Tufnell Park adjacent to the Kings Cross and Tufnell Park marshalling yards an ideal target for the german bombers. Opposite our semi-basement flat was a pub and a large water tank. These were installed for the fire services to top-up their hoses in the event of emergencies. Behind the pub was a large search light.

During part of the war we had a deaf aunt staying with us as she was on her own. One night in 1941 a bomb dropped on the water tank and its contents poured out everywhere .We had started using the air raid shelter in the garden. One night my aunt complained of a wet back. We pulled the mattress back and found the shelter flooded. The concrete had cracked and water had seeped in and filled up the shelter. The house was also unsafe. It has now been converted into an up-market apartment.

We were moved a couple of streets along the road.

It as not long before an incendiary bomb bombed us and we had to move again.

This time the house backed onto the railway but it had its own air-raid shelter. The rest of the street used the concrete ones which were fitted out with benches and power.

To un-lock them a rota was set up by the men. .I think it was Easter as my mother had poshed “ up the flat. But had put her washing on the clothes horse in the front room .One of the men on the shelter opening asked my father if he would swap evening as he wanted to go out that evening. My father agreed.

That night the bombing was again very heavy so we all went down to the shelter. My father lifting me out of my bed and carrying me down. Suddenly there was a huge bang and we knew that a bomb had exploded nearby.

Next morning we emerged from the shelter most of the houses had gone The half-dozen of the three storey houses a couple of the bungalows was all that was left of the street .The man doing the shelter was killed.

My father went back into the home fortunately there was not too much damage. All my mothers washing was hanging in the tree .This caused a laugh for the war worn Londeners A large section of a chimney was laying in my bed. Had father not changed rota my mother would have been left on her own.

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