- Contributed by听
- gmractiondesk
- People in story:听
- Joseph Pemberton
- Location of story:听
- UK
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A4159307
- Contributed on:听
- 06 June 2005
Its a snap shot, meeting and taking Douglsd Fairbanks jnr. to his ship. Bing Crosby with his wife and baby came on little 122 - lovely people. Stage Door Canteen, USO, Aquarium Bar, Times Square New York(British Seamen met there) HMS Flushing etc.
Plumber/Improver aged 17 years
Building workers formed into night squads on a part time rota basis, besides their regular jobs. Large wooden hut opposite Cavendish Street School area All Saints Oxford Road Manchester their base. Some people used the catacombs under the church as a shelter.
Bomb hit main road between Manchester and Bolton, Stanton Watermain broke. Under two Arc lamps restored water supply to that section to Manchester from pumping station at Bolton.
Night time - Salford area engineering factory glazed roof section, glass jumped from frames re-instating glass - roof snow covered - working off cat ladder, bombing started again, cat ladder slid off roof, clinging to ladder it struck , penetrated dome felt roof building, flung off on to smaller buildings, bicycle sheds and the factory boundary wall finally landing on some dust bins. Cat ladder being new saved my life. Man responsible for keeping cat ladder secure was never seen again. Fell from height of 60 ft, bruised left hip - shaken not stirred.
Stretford Town hall registered in book, employed to work on bomb damaged property. Strip plumbing material and install in less damaged property both indoors and out. Land mines dropped by parachute explode above ground with widespread destruction. Restore Fish and Chip shop to working order. Areas Stamford Street, Ayres Road, davyhume Road, Brooks bar, Seymour Grove and Kings Road. Many incidents similar vein.
Hobby to war.
Aged 16 years My School boy hobby was flying model aircraft, unknown to my parents applied to join RAF
6 months later travel from Central Station Friday Weekend with School Teacher aged 24 yrs to RAF No 2 Recruiting centre Cardington
Friday noon having intensive medical, Saturday one half day academic tests. Offered a place at Cranwell for training to be a pilot, subject to parents consent, given envelope with form. Teacher was rejected, previous motorcycle accident meant he had suffered a fractured skull.
Mother burnt consent form. Brother William, operating army wireless station in Tietsun, China, Japanese were active and he became their prisoner. Other brother was Sergeantin Territorial Army and was called up in 1939. The result of this was that I was grounded.
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