大象传媒

I was 1 year old at the start of the war and living in Chapelhay, Weymouth. My father was in a reserved occupation working in the Harbour Masters Office at Portland Harbour. I well remember the bombing raids, night after night as the Germans tried to hit the Oil Tanks at Portland and the torpedo works at Wyke. We were bombed out 2 or 3 times, fortunately with none of us being injured, although I was covered in Plaster from the ceiling. I also remember spending nights in the crypt of Holy Trinity Church, and lodging with friends.
As D Day approached Weymouth was filled with American Troops and a large area alongside the road between Wyke and Portland adjoining Chesil Beach was cleared and flattened to be used as a pre-embarkation park for troops and vehicles waiting to board the ships in Portland Harbour.
This park was huge, stretching nearly the whole way from Ferrybridge at Wyke to the Oil Tanks at Portland, with vehicles parked 7 or 8 abreast. Whenever the American Trucks passed children they would throw chewing gum and Hershey Bars to us. One day my father came home with a Softball Bat, Softball and glove, that he had been given by an American Soldier, who said he wouldn't be needing it anymore.
After the end of the war I often went with my father, usually on a Sunday morning, when he had to supervise the return of the Mulberry Harbour Caissons, and actually climbed on to the top of one of them. I believe 2 of them are still in Portland Harbour.

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