大象传媒

After the night of one of the Blitzes, the one which decimated most of Prospect Street, Albion Street and its Museum, the old Market Hall, Sewer Lane and various areas in that vicinity, I was FORBIDDEN to go anywhere near the Town. Being me, I got on my bike in the early hours of the following morning and peddled down Beverley Road until I was stopped at Spring Bank corner by Air Raid Wardens, Bomb Disposal men, Policemen and other officials, who also forbade me from going any further into the town.
My friend Molly McGuire lived in the Prudential Building, (I believe her father was the caretaker there) along with the rest of her family. She attended St. Mary's High School and as well as being academically good she was also a very keen swimmer. Their Air-Raid shelter was in the basement of the building, and it was very secure. On the night in question their home, along with many other residential and business premises was bombed by incendiary bombs as well as the high explosive types. I had hoped to see her and find out how things were with her and her family. I was told, at Spring Bank corner, that there were no survivors from that building. It was only later that I discovered that they had all drowned in their "secure" air raid shelter, as firemen tried to put out the flames which were engulfing the whole area.
The same night of Blitz activity the premises of John's father were also damaged. This building was in Sewer Lane, an abattoir. The doors of the holding area were blown off and cattle were roaming the surrounding streets. John went with his father and other members of his father's team of workers to try to round up as many cattle as they could. John was going along the walkway of, what was then, Princes Dock when he happened to look up and saw a land mine hanging by its parachute from the jib of a large crane which had been working on the dock area. In John's own words he legged it as quickly as he could. The Bomb disposal men were soon at hand to deactivate the land mine. I never discovered if any of the cattle were found.

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