大象传媒

I was 1 in 1941 and at Combe Bank Convent School, Sundridge during the Battle of Britain. A stick of bombs (3) landed alongside the school. Us juniors were underground where we slept during the raids with our siren suits on. There was a terrific explosion and the glass of milk I was holding shot out of my hand. A nun appeared in the doorway and said "Children, it's quite all right, it's only the seniors moving their chairs in the dining hall after supper." We believed this until we saw the crater next morning. I carry a piece of the bomb as a lucky charm to this day.
A German fighter pilot was shot down and parachuted into the school grounds where he managed to hide in a cave for 3 days. We never saw him before he was taken away.
The school was evacuated to Torquay where Meadfoot beach was the only one open, the rest were al mined in case of invasion. We swam there twice a week. One afternoon we were standing in the water and I remember vividly looking towards Brixham harbour and seeing 2 small black objects falling from the sky. 2 RAF servicemen shouted at us to "Lie down girls!" We obeyed instantly as 2 aircraft flew at us low over the beach and opened their machine guns. I could see the face of one of the pilots. We all survived but the nun's face was ashen. The newspapers reported that the aircraft were shot down.
During a night air raid the glass in our dormitory came in as the harbour was bombed yet again. A nun came in and said "Children! Kneel up and pray" and as I did so a large piece of glass landed on my pillow where my head had been.

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