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When WW2 broke out I was eleven and on holiday, in Newmarket, at my grandparents. They suggested to my parents I transfer from my school in London to Newmarket Grammar School which I did and never regretted.

On day in particular stood out. It was a Tuesday, Market day, a games afternoon, in February 1941. After lunch the pupils scheduled for hockey and football made their way on bicycles to the sports ground about ten minutes away from school, the other side of town. No sooner had we arrived at the sports ground the sirens went and we took shelter in the cycle sheds (which were open on one side!) and the sports pavilion. After about half an hour, or so, the ‘All Clear’ sounded. We did not realise anything was amiss until we tried to get home and had to make a long detour as the High Street was closed.

My grandparents kept the Cherry Tree Inn which was almost opposite the White Lodge Hospital where there was a lot of activity. It was then I learnt that a single enemy plane had caused havoc by dropping it’s stick of bombs along one side of the High Street taking out shops and the White Hart Hotel. The bomber had then turned and strafed the High Street with machine gun fire. It being market day there were lots of people in the High Street. Eventually we heard the casualties were 20 or more killed and over 200 injured.

People were stunned at this one attack on Newmarket.

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