大象传媒

I was 8 when the war started, living in the place of my birth, Herne Bay and have a very clear recollection of a number of events. There was the distinctive drone of the "Doodlebugs", the unmanned bombs, directed up the Thames Estuary towards London.

Then there was the German pilot who was shot down off Herne Bay. One of the few boatmen allowed on the sea was "Ninety" Pressley who went to rescue him. On stepping ashore, the pilot remarked "Ah, Herne Bay! Is Mr Cutler still at the Ecole International?" Pre-war,he learnt his English at this particular local language school.

In their wisdom and with my welfare at heart, my parents sent me to stay with my paternal Grandmother who lived in Ickenham, Middlesex, just across the road from a large RAF supplies depot! The bombing of London followed soon after and I was returned to the relative safety of the coast. Since then, I have often wondered whether my parents were trying to tell me something!

On the morning of D-Day, I stood on the promenade, fascinated and overwhelmed by the constant stream of aircraft and towed gliders, heading towards France. They had distinctive white bands painted on their wings. The 'fly-past' went on for hours and hours, from early morning until late in the evening. What a (D) day!

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.