大象传媒

Explore the 大象传媒
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

大象传媒 Homepage
大象传媒 History
WW2 People's War Homepage Archive List Timeline About This Site

Contact Us

Doodle Bug Crash at Oak Lane Upchurch

by malcolm roots

You are browsing in:

Archive List > Childhood and Evacuation

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?

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

Archive List

This story has been placed in the following categories.

Childhood and Evacuation Category
icon for Story with photoStory with photo

Most of the content on this site is created by our users, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the 大象传媒. The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. For any other comments, please Contact Us.



About the 大象传媒 | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy