大象传媒

I can remember what I think was the first raid in Coventry - I was 12 years old at the time and lived at Brighton Street just off the Walsgrave Road. I lived with my mother father and sister. WE got up and went to the Anderson shleter - a couple of bombs came down but didn't explode. There was the all clear and just as we went in and up to go back to bed and the bomb on Walsgrave Road opposite St Margarets Church exploded . The four of us nearly fell down the stairs on top of each other - we went back out and my father went out to see what it was. We heard a man on Walsgrave Road had gone back into his house to get something and apparently was killed - the rescue people were looking for him the next day.

That was the first raid i can remember . Another incident I can remember is hearing my dad when he was on fire watch telling a colleague to shut his mouth in case he caught in a bomb in it ! They had heard the bombs coming down and his friend obviously had his jaw dropped open! And I can remember him bringing a cup of tea into the Anderson shelter at a time when there was no water it had been cut off after a raid. The neighbours asked him how he'd brewed up and where he got the water from - and he told them - from the toilet. But apparently it was a beautiful cup of tea!

Fred Sinclair told his story to a people's war volunteer and understands the terms and conditions.

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