大象传媒

I was six when war broke out and twelve on VE Day; thus I had lived half my life under war conditions. My home was in Bromley, apart from twelve months or so in 1939-40 when we stayed with an aunt at Otford, near Sevenoaks.In 1941 I was a pupil in Lower One at Eltham College Junior School. We knew things were building up for an invasion, it was in the air, but of course we had no idea when or where.

I remember one day at home hearing the sound of aircraft; I looked up as usual, and saw to my amamzement the advance of a great air armada. From left to right horizon, the sky was full of aircraft, the noise incredible, a continual drone as the leading aircraft passed overhead followed by more and more until the sky was full of planes and vapour trails. There were bombers, bombers towing gliders, various fighters and fighter bombers, a vast procession that seemed to have no ending.

An awesome experience that I have never forgotten, but I cannot place it in time. I am certain it was not D day, but it could have been the airbourne attacks on the Rhine Bridges of which Arnhem was the most famous, or the later crossing of the Rhine.

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Helena Noifeld of 大象传媒 Radio Kent and has been added to the website on behalf of Edward Le Besque with his permission. He fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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