大象传媒

This story has been written onto the 大象传媒 People鈥檚 War site by CSV Storygatherer Robin.D.Bailey on behalf of the author Derek Woodward. They fully understand the terms and conditions of the site.

They may have bombed Argyle, but that was not their target nor the Ack-Ack (anti-aircraft) site next door in Plymouth Cricket Club; but, Devonport Girls High School. - The girls were no longer there, they had been evacuated to Tiverton. - It was a machine shop for the Dockyard.

October this year (2005) will feature a reunion on School premises of the evacuated scholars, brown blazers, yellow badges and panamas. Some will remember picking up their banda worksheets from wastepaper baskets and returning their completed work on the days School didn鈥檛 open.

Argyle鈥檚 two goalkeepers went. Todd Sloan, to the Dockyard. His son Frank, went to Buckfast Abbey with St. Boniface and joined the Sunday Independent Western Evening Herald and edited the Tavistock Times. Harry Conn, returned to the family cafe at Tintagel and became P.E. Instructor (Army).

Argyle鈥檚 car park became a storage park for Plymouth Corporation buses (Citybus) as both (First) National at Laira Bridge and Citybus were bombed. Milehouse was the fuelling point for both operators. Laira Bridge was roofless and lost all fuel tanks. Maintenance was almost impossible standing in 2 feet of water, so the operation was moved to a sister company, Southern National, at Bideford.

Nightly, Plymouthians evacuated themselves to the moors conveying what little possessions they had. Some to find their home bombed on their return. One of these was Lilian Pengelly, pianist at the Palace Theatre. That night, the rear safety curtain saved the theatre (only recorded occasion, to date); the back was hit, the lights went out, but Billy Cotton and Lilian played on until 4. On returning home, she found a landmine had hit her home in Meredith Road, adjacent to the Devonport Girls High School.

Across the road from Devonport High was Montpelier NEW School, but no pupil ever entered, only a landmine. The old school continued in use, the Head, R.A.H. Goodonev鈥檚 daughter Aunty Gwen, was the 大象传媒鈥檚 first pianist on Children鈥檚 Hour. Deputy, A.J. Ward (Jim) took over the school and was Head A.R.P. Warden to boot. The infant school from the Tin Chapel in Beauchamp Road was also under the same roof, complete with Headmistress. Senior education was at the commandeered Burleigh House and Hope Baptist Chapel. Evacuated schools were Devonport High Boys - Penzance and Sutton High - St. Austell. Regent Street (Sutton High premises) became Emergency High under Norman (Tibby) Lamb.

The Palace opened on time for the first house, with Lilian on the piano stool and Billy Cotton on stage, performing for the eight patrons present. Over at Devonport鈥檚 Alhambra, Phyllis Dixey had spent the day seeking bomb-blast netting for her statuesque show, as the flowers available in Devonport鈥檚 Market Floral Hall, still intact and available within the Dockyard, were destined to cover dead bodies.

Matters Mechanical:

Few buses were drafted in, Brighton & Hove sent 3. Fire Engines abounded, from everywhere, but stood idly by while Plymouth burned. Their hose couplings and the city hydrants did not match. They need not have worried, had they known at that time, one of Drake鈥檚 Leats ran under the cover of the High School grounds.

Railways:

On the old Southern Line (Gunnislake/Tamar line today), approaching the Saltash Bridge a freshly painted white stone appeared, invisible from the Devon side, but visible from the Cornish side. At night, before a bombing raid, a light (nightlight) would be lit to indicate which side of the river the warships were moored. - Canon Michael Simcock now retired in Falmouth can testify to the above.

A train driver held up from entering Plymouth during the blitz, spotted a figure running away, and raised his twelve-bore. - Not confirmed. But, we do know the police checked the Naval Camp nearby, he did not wear bell bottoms.

Next night, an attempt was made to derail a train coming down the Dainton Bank (GWR); Fishplates were loosened. Devon Constable Harry Bartlett was sent from Totnes to Wrang to investigate at the Naval Stores Camp. Did he travel by train ? - Confirmed by officer concerned.

A Naval kitbag sprang open in the guard鈥檚 van (believed Southern). The guard attempted to repack it and noticed photos of Nazi High Command when he came face-to-face with the owner. Shortly afterwards, the guard was called up and i/c a shore patrol. Unexpectedly, some loose rubble fell off a building and killed him. - Confirmed by the Theatre Director of 鈥淯nion Street鈥�. The site is at the rear of the Palace Theatre, left hand fork.

The effect of 59 raids in 48 days - the rubble built the runway at Harrowbeer (Yelverton), but that鈥檚 another story.

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