大象传媒

In 1944 I had been evacuated to Norfolk with my baby daughter, but could not settle down so decided to come back home and take a chance. My husband was in the RAF and was stationed in Cornwall and although he did not agree with what I was going to do, didn't try and stop me.
Home was a small downstairs flat, and with most of the neighbours being on their own and husbands in the forces, life seemed pretty normal and with a few bombs falling in the district but not too close I settled down with my baby daughter.
One afternoon my father, who lived a few streets from me came to visit and asked me to go and stay at my parents house for a few nights. I had not been on close terms with my mother at the time so declined the offer, however after a while he would not take no for an answer so we packed together the few things that I would need and off we went.
During the early hours Hitler decided that Chadwell Heath was the latest port of call and we had quite a noisy night, I was therefore grateful that I had not been on my own.
Around 6am the next day there was a knock at my parents door and it was my father-in-law who explained to my Dad that there may be a few windows broken at my flat as that area had taken a bashing the night before so I got dressed and we walked round to my flat.
We saw that windows had indeed been broken so I got my key out and went to put it in the front door - the door simply fell down flat into the hall!
We trod over glass and rubble, and on reaching the bedroom I was horrified to see that there was a piece of glass, wide at the top and to a point at the end, had speared my baby's mattress right in the centre exactly where she would have been if I had stayed at home. I must admit that I cried with relief. what made my father persuade me to stay at his home? what made me agree? I can only think that someone, somewhere was watching over us, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

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