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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Ben Russell from CSV Action Desk on behalf of Alma Heeley (nee Durose) and has been added to the site with her permission. Alma Heeley (nee Durose) fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I remember a plane being shot down and the pilot bailing out and landing in our garden. We lived in Hoggs lane, Northfield. He was a British Airman and we took him into the house and my dad patched him up.

I remember he had a cup of tea and me trying on his flying boots. Once he was better my dad took him up to the Barrage Balloon station and we received a lovely letter from him thanking us. The letter is below:

Dear Mr and Mrs Durose

A short note to thank you both for the very kind way you looked after me when I ‘turned up’ so unexpectedly in your garden! I must apologise for not having written before but I’ve only just returned to work.

I’m glad to say I don’t seem to have suffered any permanent ill effects from the crack on my head. Thanks a great deal, I feel sure, to your very excellent first aid and the tea.

And now I must away, once more may I say very many thanks.

Yours very sincerely

Roy Anderson
Flight lieutenant

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