大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by Jessica, a pupil from Teversham Primary School on behalf of Ron Hill and has been added to the site with his permission. Ron Hill fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

In 1943 in Netheravon, we were housed in the village. It was in a big country house. I was training glider pilots and was in the Royal Air Force and the pilots were from the army. I was moved from the big house onto the air field into tents that were to keep secret the preparations for the invasion of Europe. Then to keep the air force safe, we had to do extra guard duties. So after a full days work our orders were to challenge and if there was no answer, to open fire. One night I was on the air field on boundary duty in an armoured car. I saw something move and I shouted out and asked who it was. There was no answer and the corporal gave the order to open a fire. A burst from the twin Vickers brought an answer - it was the station commander who was testing the security in his car. You might say 鈥淥ops鈥� but he was pleased that I was on the ball. Before call up I went through the London Blitz, the biggest introduction to war for anyone to have. I was blown up twice. The second time was by a 4000 pound bomb. It came down on parachutes. I came out of hospital on my 18th birthday.

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