大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from CSV Berkshire on behalf of Anna Bray and has been added to this site with her permission. Mrs Bray fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions

鈥淚 was working at Milward鈥檚 head office in Reading on 10 February 1943 and vividly remember seeing this ball of fire flying past the window and then hearing this terrific thud. The bomb had made a direct hit on the British Restaurant where people often went for a cup of tea in the afternoon.

We had several Londoners living with us who had left London to escape the bombing to feel safer in Reading. One of them, an elderly gentleman, was absolutely terrified when he heard the air raid warnings and almost cried as we used to lead him down to the cellar in our house.

Unfortunately he was in the British Restaurant about mid afternoon when the bomb hit. My mother went to identify him as she realised he hadn鈥檛 come home that day. We also lost another man who was working in a pub in Broad Street. He went out into the street to investigate the noise and was struck on the neck by falling masonry. I remember writing to his son, who was serving with the forces in India, to inform him.

The office staff continued to sleep a couple of nights a week in the office, fire watching, i.e. looking out for incendiary bombs. These duties were from 7 pm to 7 am, after which we went home for breakfast, then back to work at 8.45.鈥�

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