大象传媒

Christmas 1940- it was my first introduction to manchester. I was stationed at Lawcroft Mill, Bury. The Germans began to blitz manchester, the police were overstretched so we were drafted in as soldiers. Together with my comrades at lancashire regiment. I was brought into Manchester on Christmas Eve at the height of the bombing and taken to Stretford Labour club. As part of the duties I was taken to a council estate, where landmines had dropped large bombs that came down by parachutes, in a street in Stretford. The residents had to be evacuated and taken to the labour club. I was ordered to stay at a T junction on my own and stop the people from returning to their homes for christmas presents. The residents not affected saw that I had plenty to drink. I was in position for at least 4 hours, til I returned to the labour club. We carried on doing what we could.

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