大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People`s War site by Alan Magson of Age Concern, Bradford and District, on behalf of Frank Dickinson, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site`s terms and conditions.

At about 6am on the morning of the 6th June 1944,1 was travelling upstairs on a Bradford Corporation bus while on my way home following a night-shift stint as Fire-Watcher-cum- ARP Messenger.
As the bus trundled past Undercliffe Cemetery in Otley Road,Bradford, I looked out of the window and saw to my amazement hundreds of aeroplanes - some towing gliders - flying across the valley towards Shipley.
Someone said 'it's the invasion'. The bus stopped and we all got out to watch this air armada flying so it seemed very low in the sky. We watched until they were all out of sight leaving the skies above Undercliffe's 'Swamp' empty.

Later, at home, while the kettle was boiling, I turned the wireless set on and heard the announcer say, 'We are receiving unconfirmed reports that the allies are attempting a landing on the North-West coast of France'.. Later of course, this news was confirmed. D-Day had arrived! I was 15 years old.

Nostalgia surrounds my memories of that faraway day. The place where I performed my ARP duties - with my father - was also my place of daytime employment. I was a paint-mixer at John Hargreaves paint-shop in Harris Street,Bradford, later Shipley Paints. These old buildings, so full of memories for me stand empty now and very soon will be demolished.

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