大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Alan Lambert and has been added to the site with his permission. He fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

Sirens sounded about 6.00 o鈥檆lock Sunday evening. Shortly after, there were a number of thuds at the front of the house. I lived with my parents in Queens Road, Gorton. The house faced Gorton Park; on rushing to the front door, it looked like a firework display from Belle Vue, which was opposite the park. 100 or more incendiary bombs were burning furiously, fortunately they had all dropped in open spaces and simply burnt out. Crossley Motors factory was about a quarter of a mile away; on looking in that direction, a huge red had glow had appeared. We ran to the corner of Gorton Lane and Crossley Street. Other incendiary bombs had set fire to Crossley Motors Factory. Firemen and police were already tackling the fire and managed to contain it to one building. The battery of guns situated on Melland鈥檚 playing fields opened up, as every plane approached; shrapnel from the shells began falling all around.

With the waves of planes still thundering over, my parents decided it was time to take cover in the air raid shelter. The shelter was a reinforced classroom in All Saint鈥檚 School. Around 9.00pm a terrific explosion shook the shelter. We learned later a parachute bomb/landmine landed on a house behind Baden Street, Ardwick. Mrs West and her daughter Betty were both killed. Their names are on the memorial in Southern Cemetery of people who died in the Manchester Blitz.

Later on it appeared to have gone much quieter in our area. On emerging from the shelter it was obvious why, as the centre of Manchester was ablaze, and the bombs were still falling; Trafford Park being the main target. Many of the bombs missed Trafford Park, and as a result, large areas of Hulme were obliterated causing heavy casualties.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.