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During the really fierce bombing of Hull I happened to win a raffle in the reporter’s room of the Hull Daily Mail — dinner for two at the nicest local restaurant. Off I went, accompanied by a good friend Robert, a captain in the Durham Light Infantry.

The nicest tables in the restaurant were under a green glass dome where a three piece orchestra played during the evening.

The siren must have gone because suddenly the bombs were heard loud and close and bits of green glass roof fell into the soup.

Nobody took much notice. The waiters brought us fresh food and everyone continued their dinner, though I did notice the orchestra played The Merry Widow Waltz a little faster than usual!

When we left the restaurant, there was hardly a road passable out of Hull.

Craters and debris blocked most of the roads we tried; air raid wardens, firemen and policemen were everywhere, and a bomb had even damaged part of the Hull Daily Mail building, where I had hoped to find some of my colleagues.

Late as it was, with no street lights and minute headlights, we finally left Hull and set off into the darkness back to my digs in Bridlington.

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