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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by a Volunteer at the National Trust, Sutton Hoo on behalf of Robert and Jean Stanmore and has been added to the site with his/her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

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Robert: At the time I lived at no 10 Austin Street in Ipswich (later no 42) backing onto the Conservative Bowling Green on the other side of which was Seymour Road where 2 or 3 houses were demolished by a bomb or doodlebug aimed at the railway tunnel. Three or four people were killed. Afterwards all our windows were blown out and the upstairs ceilings collapsed onto my oldest sister. I can remember my father bringing her downstairs covered in dust and everything. We never had any gas or anything and we had to go to Station St where we were given hot food. Also I can remember people coming into the yard to look over the wall to see where it happened, much to our parents disapproval.

We had American servicemen staying in the house and I remember sitting on their knees and being given candy. My father had got to know them through his job. He had not been allowed to go into the services because he worked for Cocksedges (steel erectors) and he was required to build service buildings and later bayley bridges used in the Normandy landings.

I remember sitting on my father’s shoulders see the planes and gliders being towed behind.
I also remember going down into the air raid shelters in Austin St.

Jean: While living in Roxham Rd, I remember seeing a doodlebug from the window which went down into the woods beyond Alton Rd. I also remember seeing the gliders.

My father was in the airforce based at Snaith nr Doncaster. Everytime I saw a man in uniform I used to call him ‘Daddy’.

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