大象传媒

At the outbreak of war I lived with my family at 24 Seymour Ave, Gt Yarmouth. My father a former regular soldier was called up and was given the rank of Sergeant Gunnery and drill instructor in the 4th Batt; Royal Norfolk Reg; He was posted to various locations including St; Germains, Dersingham and West Raynham. As Yarmouth was considered to be a front line town the family moved around Norfolk with him and I lived and schooled at KingsLynn, Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, and East Rudham.
My father was promoted to C.S.M and formed and helped run the Regiment dance band and played the drums. In the band was a Cpl CLEWS, who, before the war played Clarinet and Saxophoned with the Geraldo orchestra. He gave me my first clarinet lesson. I was the 8 years old.
When dad was medically discharged in January,1943,through severe deafness We all returned to 24 Seymour Avenue. Yarmouth. On 11th May that year, during a hit and run air raid the house received a direct hit. I was in the house with my mother. We were both buried under debris until rescued. Unfortunately our neighbours were not so lucky 4,of them were killed. I was taken to hospital, Later that day on enquiring about me my mother was told that a John Powley had just died. It was later discovered that another John Powley aged about 50 yrs (unrelated)had been admitted, by coinsidence that same day from the same raid and had unfortunately died.. I was discharged after 3 days and have fully recovered except I still to this day suffer the occasional night mares of being buried alive.
Unfortunately my Mother, Father and Sister are no longer with us, but this weekend being May 8th,VE day and May 11th the anniversary of the air raid. This has brought all the memories good and the very bad flooding back.
Some people might possibly remember my father as he was also welterweight boxing champion of the Suffolk and Norfolk Regiments. Like all sons, I was very proud of him.

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