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This story was submitted to the People's War web site by a volunteer from Age Concern Dorchester on behalf of Susan Primer-Foster and has been added to the site with her permission. Mrs Primer-Foster fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Calcutta was bombed by the Japanese on 24th December 1943. I had just arrived at work for my 9 pm to 8 am shift when we heard the sirens. I worked for the ARP.

The Japanese released bombs all over Calcutta and a goodly share of them fell over the area in which our home was situated. As the reports came into the office from the wardens, I was beginning to think I would not have a home to go back to.

The ‘all clear’ went just after midnight and the then Governor of Bengal and his wife and ADC came to our office to see how we had faced up to the bombing.

A couple of weeks later, Lord Wavell, on a trip to Calcutta, came to visit the area and was introduced to all the staff who had been on duty on Christmas Eve.

Glad to say our home was not destroyed, though several gardens nearby were.

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