大象传媒

My father (Frank) was a Civil Engineer, working for a firm making part of the Mulberry Harbour (which was to be used for the invasion of Europe). When it was finished, he had to leave home at midnight on Christmas Night 1944 to launch it officially. This had to be done at night, and secretly, in case it reached the ears or eyes of the Germans, and they sent bombers over to destroy it. Everything went off successfully.

My father Frank sadly died in one of the notorious Comet crashes during the 1950s.

I also remember that on the day War was declared I was on the beach in Jersey C.I. My mother was with me; my father was at work in England. He rang the hotel where were staying, saying 鈥淲ait for a few days, see what happens!鈥�

We sailed home about a week later, coming into a pitch dark Southampton. All the way over we were over-flown by planes and surrounded by the Navy.

The hotel we stayed at had to be rebuilt after the War. It was pulled to pieces by the Jersey people for fuel. They were so tightly rationed.

My school was originally in Horley, Surrey, not far from Gatwick Airport. We had an enormous Air Raid Shelter built in the grounds, but the parents were worried, so the whole school was evacuated to a house near Taunton in Somerset. One night the Luftwaffe went after Swansea Docks, but got slightly lost and dropped several bombs in the fields around the house. We all moved into one of the rooms downstairs, shut the wooden shutters, and stayed there for the night.

One day we were preparing for a school walk when I noticed a plane not too far away. It went into a dive, and as it pulled out, it just fell to pieces. All the bits fell to the ground! What a sight!

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