Message 1 - Flying bombs (and wasps) in Warlingham
Posted on: 04 February 2004 by Allan Scott
The following account comes in a letter written by my Danish mother, Minna Scott, in 1944, to my father (then with the RAPC in Italy). My parents rented a flat in Warlingham; it was owned by a Mr and Mrs Bellatti, who lived downstairs and were the friendliest possible landlords:
'Mr. Bellatti's son came for the week-end and I was invited down to tea on the verandah. The four of us were sitting comfortably sipping tea when the warning siren sounded.
Mr.B.: There it goes again!!
Young Mr.B: May I have another cup of tea please?'
Me: How I do hate wasps. Here is one in my honey.'
Mrs.B.: 'Yes, they are a nuisance. I will get a piece of Cellophane to put
over the Swiss roll'.
Meanwhile three bombs are rapidly approaching.
Mr.B.: 'That one is very near. Hadn't we better get up?'
Mrs. B.: 'Now the cake is safe. How I do want my tea.'
Me: 'Oh! Oh! Oh! That wasp is determined to sting me. Help!'
Young Mr.B.: 'By the way, it is my wedding anniversary today; do you know I should like to have a change of wife, pity it is not allowed.'
Mrs.B.: 'Oh look! You spilled the tea when you carried the tray out.'
Me: 'It is coming down. Look over there!'
Mr.B.: 'Get down! Get down! It is coming!'
Young Mr.B.: 'Why, it will fall half a mile away at least. May I have another cup of tea, please? I am still parched.'
Mrs. B. is saying something, but owing to a colossal explosion only the tail-end of the sentence is heard. "... more bread and butter or would you rather have a piece of cake?" while Mr. B. is picking himself up from the lawn where he has thrown himself. And so it goes on and I wonder what good it can possibly do the Germans to destroy the houses of the English, or possibly young Mr. B. is right when he says that Hitler's secret weapon is to ruin the digestion of the enemy by coming over at meal-times.'
Message 2 - Flying bombs, Duck servives V1 attac
Posted on: 10 February 2004 by Veeone
This is something my nan told me in the car on the way to my sister 30th birthday the other day.
I am heavily into WWII so I was asking my Nan was she living in london at the time or were she is now, which is just out side Slough (England) near Burnham train station.
She told me that she used to visit relatives in London during the war and stay Up there for a few days.
One day the siren went off and they were all going over to the shelter, they could see a Doodle Bug coming along the path of the road, A friedn of the families had a pet Duck so as well as all the people in the Shelter they had to make room for the Duck too.
Not that funny I know but a nice little story I thought. I think Nan said that they drop Insendury bombs to that time and everywhere was ablaze when they came out of the shelter. I will bye a Dictorphone and next time I ask someone about the war I will be able to give a better discription when I post what they told me.
Posted By Veeone
Message 3 - Flying bombs, Duck servives V1 attac
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Allan Scott
Hi, Veeone,
Thanks for your response to my post: if you click on this link:
A2254114
...you should get to my father's story about the first really big raid on London, which also features several animals (and a baby...)!
The dictaphone is a great idea (or you could try a minidisk recorder -- something you could play back on the computer, maybe?)
All the best, and good luck with your research -- it's well worth it!
Allan Scott
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