大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Leslie Robinson and has been added to the site with his permission. He fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was 16 when the war broke out in 1939, and I lived with my parents in Dulwich, South London. I was still at achool attending the City of London College, Ropemaker Street in the City, and travelled there daily.

During a night raid in November 1940, our house was bombed and our home and possessions destroyed. We were in our Anderson Shelter in the garden, and although bricks and mortar collapsed onto the shelter burying us for a time, we were finally released unharmed, apart from suffering from shock.

My mother's brother lived in Kent, and was prepared to offer us accommodation until we could get things sorted. This presented a problem for me as I was still at school in the City and travelling back and forth would be difficult.

A solution to this problem was made possible by the generosity of the parents of my very good school friend Ray Fraser. They lived in an apartment at the London Assurance Building, No. 1 King William Street in the City. Ray's father was responsible for the building's maintenance and the accommodation went with the job. They suggested I stay with them and their very kind offer meant I would be in walking distance of the college during the week, and I could visit my parents at the weekend. It was this arrangement that brought about the experience I am about to relate.

On the night of Sunday 29 December 1940, I travelled to London by train having spent the weekend with my parents. I arrived at London Bridge Station around 7.00pm. It was a clear night as I walked across a deserted London Bridge, and an air raid had started. When I reached the far side of the bridge, I noticed a solitary figure, and as I drew closer, I realised it was a policeman. Understandably he showed some surprise, when saying to me "Where do you think you're going?" "I'm going home" I replied, and went on to explain the circumstances. We spoke briefly, but things were getting quite hectic with the raid, and he urged me to hurry on my way.

I have often thought back to that night and wondered about that policeman. What happened to him? Is he still around? And if so could he recall meeting that young man on London Bridge that terrible night.

I finally arrived at No. 1, having walked and run the length of King William Street. I rang the bell and Mr Fraser came up from the sub basement of the building to let me in. I mention the sub basement as that was where we slept at night during an air raid, it being an ideal air raid shelter.

It was a devastating raid on London that night and large areas of the City were destroyed. The London Assurance building was badly damaged, but our basement shelter kept us safe and sound.

However, one of the many buildings that suffered, and the one I had a close association with was the City of London College. It was completely destroyed along with its records.

You could say that on December 29th "I left School." I also lost contact with all my school friends. I did mantain contact with the Frasers for a number of years, and also attended Ray's wedding after the war. They then emigrated to Australia and I lost touch.

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