大象传媒

My late grandfather Thomas H Pallitt had a civilian job making hand-made submarine screws. He was in A.F.S and was stationed in Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak. He told us many stories of where he was fire watching during the blitz. Christmas Eve he was fire watching next door to the co-op warehouse, the night watchman showed him where the mice had made a small hole in the cheese and eaten the lot!

During the heaviest raids on Birmingham (13 hours long) they were sent somewhere on the Stratford road while they were cleaning up they had a shout to Kent Street baths. My grandfather was asked to stay behind, when they arrived on Belgrade Road, a bomb had gone off and the fire engine had gown down a crater, killing all the crew. Kent Street baths had received a direct hit with many casualties. He often spoke how the Germans would try to machine gun them on the ladders. My grandfather was late of a job and both mom and nan were extremely worried but they were fighting huge fires in town. My nan cried when she saw the town burning. After the war my grandfather became a special constable also stationed in Selly Oak. He saw plenty of horrors which never spoke about but this is what we can remember.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Anastasia Travers from WM CSV Action Desk on behalf of Susan Jobbins and has been added to the site with her permission. Susan Jobbins fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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