大象传媒

My name is Bill Lister. I was a messenger with the Civil Defence right from the age of fifteen. I relate to and evening in late August, just before the war was beginning to ease off in respect of the bombing of Britain. One evening the Head Warden asked me if I'd go up and inspect a fire which was raging in the corner of a field and the Black Path, which is the path that merges onto the road to Hesleden. The fire in respect was about fifteen haystacks in the field, on the corner. It was at the time when the incendiary bombs were fitted with an explosive charge which was designed to do damage to anyone trying to put them out you see. As I came down and stood on the top of the bank and looked down at this fire I heard a bomber coming in and knew it wasa German bomber because of the sound of the engines. The engines weren't synchronised so you got a "woof-woof" sound, sort of style. It was very low - I mean, very low! He seemed to be coming in and just skimming the hedge top. So I threw my bike into the hedge and dived in after it. Unfortunatley, my bike and I went into a patch of nettles - and I'll never forget that night!

This story was submitted to the People's War site by a volunteer from Blackhall Library on behalf of Bill Lister and hasbeen added to the site with his permission. Mr Lister fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.