- Contributed by听
- malcolm roots
- People in story:听
- Malcolm Roots Leslie Roots and Nellie Roots
- Location of story:听
- Newington and Upchurch
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A4421657
- Contributed on:听
- 10 July 2005
I have vague memories of a doodlebug crashing into the railway bridge at Oak Lane Upchurch just before a passenger train was due.
I was with my mum Nellie Roots in a field where she was cutting cabbages with other workers when there was a continuous shrill whistle that we learnt later was the train whistle that had become stuck after crashing on to the road below the raiway line.
There were many casualties incuding nine dead. My father Leslie Roots who was a fireman helped bring the dead to Brunt and Ayletts in Newington High Street which was used as a makeshift mortuary.
I am sure I can remember after the war going to Newington Raiway station to meet the spitfire pilot who had come to apologise for either shooting the doodlebug down or tipping the wing just as the engine stopped.
Can anyone clarify my recollections and tell me I was not dreaming?
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