大象传媒

Fitzmaurice Grammar School in Bradford-on-Avon was relatively small and because of this, unusually at this time, it was a mixed-sex school. During the period when there was the risk of incendiary bombs the senior boys were asked to take a turn at fire watching at night and I feel sure that there must have been a Master in charge. The boys would return to school where beds were provided and I think they enjoyed the experience.

There were about six boys who formed a small band, including a couple that were not from the school. The band was called the Rhythm Rascals and used to play for social evenings at the school. One band member called George Howell, who played the piano accordion, then joined the ATC Band at Trowbridge and they played for more formal occasions.

One Saturday night the ATC band was booked to play in Bath. Afterwards George was put up by the pianist, Geoff Marquis who lived at Combe Down in Bath. The house was of typical Georgian terrace design with front door, inner hall door and passage leading to the kitchen and back door. That night the siren sounded and the Air Raid Warden came round urging people to go down the road to the brick built shelter, but the Marquis family declined saying they would shelter under the stairs. There was a nearby bomb and the blast blew out all the doors through the house from front to back but all those under the stairs were safe. However the bomb had dropped on the shelter where George and the Marquis family had been advised to go and all those in it were sadly killed.

The destruction on that night and the next night in Bath was terrible but many lovely buildings including the Abbey survived. Being so near Bath we could see the sky lit up and hear the bombs falling. George survived later joining the Navy where he became a Petty Officer. We married on his demob leave in 1947.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.