大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the site by the 大象传媒's Peoples War Team in the East Midlands with John Harleys permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions"

I had celebrated my 15th birthday on 30th April. I lived on a 1st floor flat at 29 Fox Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham and attended Mundella school concluding my education there in April 1942.

About 10p.m. Monday 5th May the sirens sounded. On previous occasions my mother had left me indisturbed. This night was to be different.

With others I was to spend several hours in the cellar. I don't remember being scared in spite of the whistles and occasional screams of bombs and the continuous ack-ack of anti-aircraft fire. A screaming bomb indicated a close or direct hit.

Following the all clear about 4 a.m.Tuesday May 6th we ventured outside. It was evident that Notingham had been subjected to a heavy raid, though not as severe as at Coventry, Hull, Plymouth and many others.

Nos 19 and 21 Fox Road had been hit destroying the fronts of both houses. A door leading to the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground had been blown away. The ground and stands were like a winter's scene. White over resulting from numerous clutches of incendiary bombs.

The main London to Nottingham railway line was at the bottom of the garden on a raised embankment. A goods train was stationary only yards away from where a bomb had landed leaving a signal at a crazy angle. This had alrted the train driver and probably saved his life had he not seen the twisted railwayline ahead.

It was not until about 8 a.m. that we were told of an unexploded bomb. It was on the cricket ground where many of us had congregated hours earlier. The bomb detonated at 10.30 a.m. I was in the passage of the ground floor flat with the front door open. The blast gently carried me a few feet harmlessly.

The most serious losses of life were at the Co-op Bakery on Meadow Lane and Boots factory on Station Street adjacent to the Midland Railway Station. Over 60 people were killed, the majority of the bodies were never recovered.

My mother certainly saved me from injury or even death. My bedroom window was shattered and my bed was covered in shards of glass.

I can only recall one further raid , though of less severity, except for those who lived in the Sneinton area of the City.

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