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Dear Sir,
Re: W.W.2. People’sWar.

I thought you might be interested in one of my memories which I have told my grandsons about. I was eight years old at the time, and this memory has never left me. I hope this will be of some interest to you.

Grandpop’s Memories

On a warm summer day, as a special treat, my mother took us on a picnic to Findon. My mother took my brothers, some friends and myself on a No. 1 bus from Worthing. (Incidentally, the journey in those days was interrupted when we would be required to get off the bus at the bottom of the bridge and WALK over to the other side, where we would then again get on to the bus!! This was because the bus was fuelled by a gas trailer, and could not cope with carrying passengers up a steep incline!)

Our bus journey ended in Findon Valley at the bottom of Vale Avenue, and we made our way up to the Gallops: at that time this area was put down to corn. We walked through the cornfield to the side of the chalkpit and began our picnic.

At about midday, formations of bomber planes appeared in the blue sky at a very high altitude, making their way north. Flying towards them were formations of Spitfires. A big air battle began, and we had to hurriedly make our way to an Anderson Shelter in the garden of a house close to the Gallops. There was a lot of gunfire and spent ammunition rained down on the countryside below. We then saw the planes being shot down and numerous parachutes appeared in the sky, two of which did not open. One of the planes came down in a field at the top of West Hill. Later, we made our way to that field to look at the bomber which had been shot down and to collect some shrapnel and souvenirs of this exciting ‘day out’!

On our way home, while waiting for the bus back to Worthing, we saw a number of people gathering along the Findon Road to watch the Home Guard, who had rounded up the remnants of the crews which had bailed out, and were marching them down the road.

To my recollection, this event took place sometime during the last two weeks in August 1940, as this was our Summer school holiday. I hope this information is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Albert W. Roberts (tel. 01903873370)

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