大象传媒

This story has been typed in by a People's War volunteer on behalf of the CSV Actiondesk at 大象传媒 Radio Bristol.

A Bristol boy - I was born on 23rd April 1917 at 29 Villiers Rd, off Stapleton Rd. in Bristol.

Joining the City of Bristol Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force in 1936, I became a trainee fitter and in June 1939, remustered to become a trainee airman Pilot.

Although seriously undertrained, I flew Hurricanes with the Squadron in the Battle of Britain and in February 1945 , by this time a Flight Lieutenant, whilst flying an
aircraft named The Tempest over Germany, I zigged when I should have zagged, was hit, set on fire and parachuted (for the second time ),captured - and was then a POW until, having been liberated by Pattons 5th Army, I arrived at Temple Meads train station on the afternoon of May 8th, VE Day

I was met by my parents-in-law and we took a taxi to Weymouth Rd where my wife Bertha was awaiting my arrival, having been fetched by her sisters from our home in Nailsea. Please bear in mind that we had no contact during the interim, although she had received word that I had been seen in a prison camp and had therefore been alive at that time.

When the taxi turned into Weymouth Rd, it had to stop some distance from the house because the road was filled with the paraphernalia of the street's VE party - make-do paper hats, jellies and what-have- you.

I was somewhat embarrassed when all the pary goers stood and cheered my appearance.
I put my hand in my pocket to pay the taxi driver and he said the following words which have stayed with me for the ensuing 60 years - '' I can't take money from you Sir'' and despite my persuasions, he wouldn't and didn't.

The years rolled by and in 1990, the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, those who were flying in it were invited to a number of functions in London, including a reception at the Guildhall given by The City of London at which we were presented to our patron - the late Queen Mother. When, accompanied by my dear wife of 50 years, Bertha, we took a taxi back to our hotel, the driver nearly stopped the taxi when he learned in answer to his questions that I had been a Battle of Britain pilot.
In an expression of near disbelief, he said, ''Gor blimey, Guv, I watched ya as a kid at The Elephant and Castle''. Now, the extraordinary thing is, that upon offering the fare, I got exactly the same reaction that I had from his counterpart, 45 years before. I thought, and still think it quite extraordinary, that two taxi drivers were linked by the same sentiment, and action, all those years apart.

Bill Green

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