- Contributed by听
- derbycsv
- People in story:听
- Derek Ellison
- Location of story:听
- Chesterfield, Derbyshire and later story G眉tersloh (Germany BFPO 39 1960)
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A5990961
- Contributed on:听
- 02 October 2005
This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Odilia Roberts from the Derby Action Team on behalf of Derek Ellison and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.
The German air force tried to bomb the Horns Bridge at Chesterfield. This carried three railway lines up and down and across the country. They failed because Chesterfield during darkness kept a strict blackout. Near to the bridge were the Tube Works and Bryan Donkins, these produced vital items for the war effort e.g. cylinders and compressors. They did drop a bomb; it was on the golf course at Walton, about four miles away. The Germans did have aerial plans of other firms in Chesterfield, including Markham Works, Sheepbridge, so they had their sights set on the engineering works.
When a German aircraft was returning home it dropped a bomb on some houses in Tupton (Ward Street, I believe), I think eight people were killed, they are buried in North Wingfield Churchyard against the far wall where a large bush covers the area today.
One morning there was a big banging on the wooden gate at the back of the house. When
Mum went to investigate, it was Grandad, she spoke to him and opened the gate and asked him why he had come home so early as he had walked from North Wingfield to Compton Street Chesterfield, he said that her Mum had sent him because they had heard that a bomb had been dropped on Chesterfield Football Ground. The ground was at the bottom of our house. She had sent him to find out if my Mum and myself were all right. Apparently I was my Gramma鈥檚 favourite as I was the nearest born to her birthday, she was the 19th and I was born on 16th.
Whilst I was serving with the RAF in Germany in 1960 at RAF G眉tersloh, a German driver told me something. He said that the airfield the allies never found was because it was disguised. When the airfield was not being used sheets and fencing was put in place, this included cows and other animals on the land, which were moved when the airfield became operational. The building around the airfield would look like a housing area, he also told me that over the far side there were bombs, still in readiness to be slung up into the aircraft.
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