大象传媒

Extracted from the log book of the headteacher of Paull Primary School and contributed by Mr Jim Uney.

7 April 1943
Today, Wednesday, a violent wind blowing from early morning caused the barrage balloon moored to a barge in the river, to sway and swoop dangerously at the end of its cable. Finally it dived into a building adjoining the school and exploded. At 9.30 am the children were at the end of their scripture lesson when a sudden and quite unexpected explosion shattered the whole building. In one second the school was a wreck and the children, who scrambled over the debris, were got safely out and were received in the street by anxious parents and others, for a crowd had quickly collected; miraculously not a child was hurt. For a short time the air was so thick that the teachers had to grope amongst the desks to see of any children had been left behind hurt. The windows had been blown in and blazing fragments of the balloon clung to the frames. The doors were all shattered and plaster and slates having fallen large patches of sky could be seen through the roof.

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