´óÏó´«Ã½

23rd May 1943

Kay lay there, quite content to have a lie in. Sunday, I suppose I ought to get up and go to church. She opened the curtains. A lovely sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. Sunday the day of rest.

Jeff left early to meet up with his platoon, for the five day training with the armed services. He would be back at his desk in the Pay Office by the weekend.

Kay had an invitation to lunch with their friend Sybil and her husband. She decided to wear a smart grey suit, with satin blouse and court shoes. As she brushed her brunette curly hair the golden tinges glinted in the sunlight. She leaned closer to the mirror, which reflected a stunning beauty peach skin, pink blushed cheeks, rosy lips. No need for makeup.

Kay felt happy with her appearance. She was so glad that because of the war it was not necessary to wear a hat. She hated them.

At an enemy air base ‘somewhere in France’ a plane was loaded with bombs for a sneak raid on the south coast of England. Perfect weather. The pilot checked his watch. Contact. The engine roared.

In Bournemouth Kay set out for Sybil’s. Had she time to walk there. She checked her watch. 12.30. Should get there by 1.15. Happy and relaxed she walked down Grenville Gardens. She would take the road past the Metropole Hotel.

The plane glided soundlessly over the top of the waves, avoiding the Radar. On land no awareness of impending danger. Thirty seconds to target.

Throughout Britain the ´óÏó´«Ã½ ‘pips’ signalled the one o’clock news. The war weary population listened anxiously.

As Kay reached the Metropole Hotel, the first explosion, a direct hit on Bobby’s Store rocked the earth. A second bomb left the plane. Kay heard no sound at all as the hotel was demolished and would never again hear a human sound.

Eve Smith, Tamworth.

Written about her sister Kathleen (Kay) Jeffrey (nee Hall) November 1905 – May 1943 (37 years old)

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