大象传媒

I was an apprentice int he Woolwich Arsenal in 1940. On Saturday the 7th of September, queing outside the factory known at the New Fuze factory to clock off, a thumping noise was heard and then someone shouted "bombs". We all scattered towards the air raid shelter. The banging continued towards us and we were jammed at the entrance to the shelter. Marching towards us one landed within 10 yards and it destroyed a small building containing a forge which was alight, the ashes from this scattered all over the carpark, setting all the cars alight. The last bomb that fell of the stick of bombs, landed on an air raid shelter. In that air raid shelter was my cousin's husband, who was killed. They had just had their first child.

I got my bicycle and cycled off home to Woolwich market, turning off towards my home in Eltham. On the way I passed the Woolwich barracks where I was called in by the soldiers who had recently returned from Dunkirk and were well versed with all the events that were happening. Aircraft diving in all directions, contrails all over, shrapnel raining down, bullet clips raining down, parachutes raining down, aircraft crashing and flaming. The guns on the Woolwich common were banging away and after a while it was felt that it was safe enough and I cycled off home.

On the way I was passed, going in the other direction, a variety of ambulances, fire engines and all manner of emergency vehicles, pumps etc, all heading towards the emergency.

I returned to the factory the next to find it had been utterly destroyed with nothing left standing.

The next day being a Monday I went to the local recruiting office and volunteered for Aircrew which eventually I achieved and lived to tell the tale.

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