大象传媒

I remember Vellacotts Farm and cottages at Stonehouse Lane, West Thurrock well as I used to deliver papers there and after school hours worked on the farm land. I, with my two brothers and a sister went to Bushey Bit School, (Aveley Secondary) during the war years. We lived on the Uplands Estate, Purfleet and we all had to have special passes to walk from school along the old Southend Road to the estate and home. The reason for passes was that it was a high security area, with masses of tanks, wagons and amphibious craft getting ready for D Day. Also after D Day the very big American/British camp was turned into a German POW camp. Needless to say walking home from school (now Thurrock Hotel) we jeered and threw many insults at 鈥渢he enemy鈥� en route from Tilbury Docks.
One very scary moment I had was when I had done some shopping after school and was cycling up Stonehouse Hill when a doodle bug (V1) cut out and as I jumped off my bike it dived and exploded in the chalkpit behind what was Jurgens Sport Club. What a bang!
I was never evacuated throughout the whole war and have many memories of what happened, just prior to D Day when all the lads went. Many of them were invited to spend 2 nights in many of our homes. Then every road, field and woods emptied and they were gone. I often wonder 鈥� did they survive? I do have many more memories of war years.

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