大象传媒

An interesting addition to my wartime memories of Trowbridge and surrounding areas, particularly with regard to bombing. These are some memories passed on by a lifetime resident of Hilperton, a village just outside of Trowbridge. I have always been intrigued by a photograph in a book of old Trowbridge history showing bomb damage which according to the caption was either at Hilperton Marsh or Semington. Because of wartime censorship the exact location of this enemy action could not be revealed at the time it was taken. The damage was quite severe with a crater twenty five feet across and twelve feet deep. Nine dwellings were affected but there were no human casulties. Evidently the animal population did not come off quite so well. At last I have the answer! I was taking the lady home from a visit to the local health clinic and she said that if I did a short detour she would show me the exact site of the bomb. Being of the same generation we had already been busily comparing our wartime memories and she pointed out the actual spot where the bomb fell - in Hill Street opposite the Giffords end of Greenhill Gardens. The site is now occupied by a bungalow. At the time the lady - then of course a young girl - was living in Dymott Square - about two hundred yards up the road. In my earlier memories I said how Middle Lane in Trowbridge was occupied by soldiers for the duration of the war but they were also billeted in Hilperton which was effectively an extension of this area.
The Kennet and Avon Canal runs along the boundaries of Trowbridge and Hilperton. In 1940 this was fortified as a line of defence in the event of a German invasion and there are still a few pill boxes along the banks. One night however - another "Hilperton" memory - incendary bombs were dropped in the fields between the village and the Canal at Hilperton Marsh and to quote "the trees were set alight". All this was happening within two miles of where I lived in Trowbridge and no doubt many other older residents of West Wiltshire have similar memories of how the war came to their area.

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