大象传媒

Etched forever on my long term memory disc from WW 2 are bombs, blackouts and gas masks. Oh, how I hate the gas mask. I'ts a pain in the neck for several reasons: daily I must lug it to and from school, then each time the air raid warning siren pierces my eardrums I struggle to put it on over my glasses which then become steamed up or blotched with tears of frustration as I cry for mummy to help me, knowing full well that she's at home two and a half miles away. Finally I dive under the desk and crouch there until the "All Clear," sounds.
Periodically Headmaster Mr. Herbert Wills brings the Air Raid Warden to all classrooms, the man explains "It's important that you all bring your gas masks to school, becaues the volunteers will come in and add a new filter for your protection."
I sigh, this will make the mask even heavier.
I've hidden the wretched thing behind the front door, however Mum invariably finds it as she chases my siblings and me to take our spoonful of Cod Liver Oil -- with a pinch of salt - ere run to school.
She warns, "Edith Anne if you don't take this gas mask and they -- the Germans -- drop a tear gas bomb in Paulerspury you will find yourself in a rum kettle of fish."
I didn't heed her warnings untill one night 'they' dropped a bomb in Mr. Tom Wood's field located just outside Alderton on the Pury Road. There wasn't time to sound the siren and had it landed any closer Alderton would have been wiped off the map.
Nightly we'ed hear the roar of planes over head and feel the vibrations as the bombs exploded on cities around us. While Mum and Dad did their best to reassure us that "It will soon be over."
I'd pull the covers up over my head, pray for them to stop and wonder how many bombs one city could take.
Dad said, "You can be sure that one was meant for Coventry, 1. an important city since the 14th century with a history dating back from Anglo-Saxon times. A city noted for the statue of Lady Godiva and manufacture of Rolls Royce motors used in cars and planes. On November 14th 1940, 40 acres of the city center were destroyed by German bombers. Bombs completely desecrated and gutted the interior of the magnificent Cathedral.
The following morning like a pilgrimage to Lourdes, all 96 inhabitants of our village -- including eighty year olds Mrs. Tyrell and Mrs. Isham bedridden for years wheeled in "Bath Chairs," -- turned out to inspect the enormous crater made by the exploded bomb, Adolf sent to Alderton.
Cows, horses and sheep grazed contentedly in adjoining fields as adults speculated on the cause and effects of the bomb. Many marveled that there were no casualties. Others said, "They reckon it was a farmer over there in Pury End. He was checking his pigs in the middle of the night and the Luftwafa pilot saw the glow from his lantern. Over and over I heard, "Cor blimey, it missed Alderton by a couple of fields or we'ed all be goners."
We children collected, scrutinized and swapped chunks of shrapnel untill our scared mothers shrieked, "Don't touch that stuff, it could explode and blow off all your fingers."
At evening service almost every seat in St. Margarets Church was filled to thank God for sparing our lives. This attendance of parishioners almost sent the vicar into a state of shock and caused sidesman Mr. Sid Hall to stagger under the weight of the collection plate.
Later that evening the old codgers met in the Plough Inn and with a pint of arf and arf under their belts bravely declared "If that Adolf Hitler and his henchmen dare set foot on British soil, we'll ang, draw and quarter the lot of them buggers."
The war with; bombs, blitzes, rationing, Brits lost in action, death and destruction across Europe continued, life was never quite the same but at least Alderton received no more nasty notes from Adolf.

Footnote: 1. Coventry an important City
from AA Illustrated Guide to Britain 1976 cited page 176 Coventry.

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