大象传媒

THE ROOF FELL OFF

During the war years having failed my medical to be accepted into the armed forces, I determined to at least serve in some capacity and eventually I was taken on by a firm of caterers, 鈥淏arkers鈥� who sub-contracted to building firms , ie. Wimpeys and McAlpine, to supply meals to the men working on the site鈥檚 in various parts of the country.

The majority of these men came from Ireland so living accommodation had to be provided. It was at this time that the I.R.A. were beginning to cause problems, so you can imagine that at times, things got completely out of hand.

One of the camps in which I was billeted was at Alconbury in Huntingdonshire where the men were occupied in laying down tarmac for the runway for the planes landing and taking off. As it was Christmas, all the men had gone home to their respective families, leaving the camp deserted , except that I had been asked to stay on, and so with the companionship of a small portable radio and an occasional visit from the night-watchman from a neighbouring camp, I was virtually on my own.

It was Christmas eve and as I had little to occupy my mind I decided to turn in early. I was suddenly awakened by a terrific bang and on investigation, I stumbled across one of our own bombers 鈥� a Stirling 鈥� which was poised in the air with its propeller shafts all twisted and bent, like a huge pair of scissors. Looking down at me from the cockpit was the pilot, quite unperterbed and grinning like a Cheshire cat..

I invited him over to the hut to share a meal of bacon and eggs followed by a hot drink for which he was grateful. The weather outside was simply atrocious, so I suggested that he should stay the rest of the night. He needed no second invitation and was soon fast asleep in the chair.

Morning came and after a wash and brush up and a good breakfast, he took his departure.

It was much later in the day that I found out the real cause of the disturbance of the night. It transpired that the under 鈥� carriage wheels of the plane had got locked and in trying to make a forced landing, the wheels took the canteen roof off completely and with near Arctic conditions prevailing, I feel sure I would be forgiven, for dispelling any thought of keeping a guest house for lost airmen at the cessation of hostilities.

This story was submitted to the 鈥淧eoples War Site by Rod Aldwinckle of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of EARNEST COTTLE and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the terms and conditions of the site

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