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CITY OF COVENTRY

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AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

JOHN MORTON LEADING FIREMAN G ROSCORLA DIVISIONAL OFFICER HOLMSDALE ROAD
A.F.S.
FOLESHILL
COVENTRY
ENGLAND

13 鈥� 1 鈥� 41

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter on behalf of your son Desmond. He was out with me on the 14th Nov BLITZ Night at Coventry. I expect you are wondering why I should be writing, well, I will tell you. Desmond told me you wanted to know all about the Blitz but I can鈥檛 tell you all that happened as it would be cencored. At 6 鈥� 50 pm the sirens sounded & at 6 鈥� 53 pm I turned out with a crew of 4 MEN & 1 messanger (Desmond) to a Chimney Fire. We arrived at the scene of the fire and got to work & had nearly got it out, when whiz, whiz. whiz & incendary bombs were Droping all around us & within 30 seconds there was a crashing of falling bombs (HEs) & A.A Gun & Blitz Night had started for Coventry.
I called the men off the roof & together with Dess we flatened out as the H.E.s came down . One house 100 yards up the street crashed down and then another below us crashed & so it went on for 11 hours. In my.big hurry to get out to the Chimney Fire I forgot my tin hat and gas mask & every time a bomb fell near us, Dess lay on top of me & protected my head from falling debress & because of this I recommended him for the George Medal for Bravery.

CITY OF COVENTRY

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AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

JOHN MORTON
DIVISIONAL OFFICER

Nothing more has been heard of my Recommendation since our Divisional Officer passed it on.
At about 12 鈥� 0 pm I got seperated from my Crew but Dess stuck to me & we met 1 man of another Crew & later 4 men of another crew and together we kept at it for another couple of hours, when our water supply gave out.
Just after this happened a bomb crashed not far from us & as we went to see what had happened we heard some鈥攐ne crying and we proceeded to rescue them. After 2 hours hard work we got an old man out of the Wreckage but his wife was Dead. About half hour after Dess & I walked into a shop & as we walked out & off the Pavement the shop went up in Dust & Smoke & I don鈥檛 remember much more, untill I came to at the fire station later next morning, thanks to 鈥淕ood Old Dess鈥� again.

I will now Close
Wishing You the Best
of Health

G Roscorla

62, Hen Lane,
Coventry.

Dear Desmond

I have received the following letter from Lord Dudley, acknowledging services given on the night of the 鈥淏litz鈥� in Coventry, and although it is addressed to me, I feel that it is really an appreciation of the work done by the entire crew on that occasion.

As you were one of the crew, I now send you a copy of the letter, so that you can share, as you should, in this acknowledgement.

Yours sincerely,

C.W.Henney

P.O. AFS.

C O P Y

Regional Headquarters,
Civic House,
Birmingham. 3.

13th February, 1941

Dear Mr Henney,

It has been brought to my notice that on the night of the 14/15th November last during a heavy Air Raid on Coventry, after fighting fires till your pump was destroyed you led your crew, who had no proper tools, in rescuing several persons who had been trapped beneath fallen debris.

This is a short personal note to convey my appreciation of your leadership and initiative on this occasion, and to thank you for the services which you rendered in the National Cause.

Yours faithfully,

signed. DUDLEY.

Regional Commissioner.

C. W. Henney Esq.,
62 Hen Lane,
Coventry.

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