大象传媒

The German Bombers had dropped their bombs on the area around the Filton and Patchway works. Just immediately after the 27th of September 1940, my friend Les Ward and myself went searching for schrapnel. This metal was much coveted by small boys. There was a crater near the woods known locally as "Nutwoods" which was already filling up with water. Not to be deterred Les and I slid down the steep sides of the crater, covered in sticky mud, the horrors of which we were totally oblivious to. At the bottom was our "reward", the largest piece of schrapnel that we had ever seen. This was the size of side of a bomb. In spite of its size my friend wrapped his coat around it so that we could struggle up the side of the crater. This meant that we could take it to school the next day to show the others. Alas the local policeman caught us, and told us in no uncertain terms that we had to drop it and scarper off home. We obeyed him, and the next day when we went back it had gone! Obviously, the local police had arranged for the schrapnel to be taken away.

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