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April 7th 1943 was Newport’s heaviest raid. Bombs dropped at 7.20 a.m. One, a t Avondale Road, sliced through the corner of a roof, bounced and exploded in the air over Morey’s yard. The next was heading directly for our house in Cl arence Road, but hit a branch of a tree as it came in and swerved across the road, demolishing five houses. The next hit the Medina cinema in the High St. My father was blown 10yds by the blast, but unhurt. One hit a Doctor,s house in what is now Church Litten Park — difficult to imagine the scene when you walk along there now.
There was also an incident when a high explosive bomb landed near the Creameries and failed to explode. My father, being in the police, was on guard duty, solo. I was sent to take him some sandwiches and can still see this lonely figure standing with his back to 1000lbs. High explosive and apparently not bothered !
The Doodlebug rocket, which landed in soft ground at the back of what is now the Garage in Carisbrooke Road… but memories could go on and on.

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