大象传媒

MAY 30/31 1941

I had been to Liverpool and I caught the last bus back from Birkenhead to Ellesmere Port. I went straight to my place of work, it was a small ship repair yard where I was to report at 12 midnight on duty of fire watch until 8.00am next morning. I am allowed to enter the yard, and the stint was to be somewhat alarming at the start, as I walked towards the canteen in complete blackout, something landed on my shoulder with a thud, before I could panic in any way the sound of a 鈥減urr鈥� assured me it was the canteen cat.

That wasn鈥檛 to be any good for nerves as the sirens sounded the warning. What a raid that was to be and never forgotten!

My area of fire watching was on the side of the Manchester Ship Canal and the distant view across to the Lancashire side of the Mersey was pretty clear and so the local 鈥淎ck-ack鈥� began their barrage it was terrific and with this noise the constant drone of planes overhead on their deadly mission. Over the other side, Liverpool was on fire with spurts of green, yellow and red. My thoughts where nothing, nor anyone could escape that. The following day I went to meet my girlfriend of 8 years at the same rendezvous. She was not there and did not turn up. Remembering what she had previously said to me 鈥渋f I don鈥檛 turn up some time, I鈥檒l be dead鈥�. With a terrible sense of fear I decided to go to her home. I am now in Liverpool just up from Central Station, a scene of desolation, and the air thick with a blue haze. Hosepipes all over the place, not a soul in sight, my God Liverpool is dead.

I waited a little while, no chance of transport, I had quite a walk, suddenly, in the distance a taxi appeared. It proceeded right up to me, the driver said 鈥淚鈥檝e come from Preston, I鈥檝e a sailor here to join a ship at Toxteth Dock, can you help me?鈥� Just where my girl lived. I squatted in the little area of cases belonging to the sailor and we got easily on to the Dock Road, which was clear. The Dock was reached, no doubts with the name being on the gates. I hired the taxi from then he agreed to wait while I was in my girlfriend鈥檚 home. When I got in the house it hit me right away, something had happened, my girls sister had given birth to a baby and the hospital was hit by a bomb and all killed. A quick word with her mother who agreed I could bring my girl back to my home in case there was a repeat blitz. Two friends who couldn鈥檛 get home to the Bootle area that night took the taxi over after me so was that the only taxi running in Liverpool (from Preston).

Julie, my girl only stayed on night she returned to search for her sister and child. After 2 days in and out of schools and halls etc. she found both, she had recognised her sisters鈥� foot and having revealed and confirmed it was her sister noted how miraculous it was that the bomb which killed many people had not cause any injury marks.

The Hospital in Liverpool that was bombed killing hundreds of mothers and babies was Mill Road Hospital.

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