大象传媒

This Story is submitted by a voluteer on behalf of Radio Bristol Action Desk at City of Bristol College.

Ray Denham was here in Bristol at 14 after leaving school. Got a job Savorys in Park Row and did volunteer firewatching for the big raid in November 1941.

On a sunday when the main raid started he was firewatching with an older guy of about 19 in Savorys. They were on the front balcony overlooking the city when a huge number of flares came down lighting up the whole centre just like chandeleirs. This was for the bombers to see their target but whilst scared Ray says that it did look magnificent.

The anti-aircraft guns were making a huge racket and then he describes the sound of breaking glass where an incendiary bomb had come through the skylight and set a small fire going on the top floor. The two of them dealt with this quickly with a stirup pump and sandbags and then had to rush downstairs to deal with another fire.

After the raid finished at about 6am they had saved the building which still stands today and belongs to the university.

Ray then had to make his way home back to Barton Hill, unable to ride his cycle due to debris and firemans hoses. There were fires all over the place and many areas were cordoned off by police which meant that he had to make a large detour in order to get back to his road.

When he finally did get back two houses on his road had been bombed and were completly destroyed just two doors down from his house. This worried him deeply but was overjoyed to find that his family were safe and in the Anderson shelter.

For his trouble he was paid 50 pence (10 shillings) which was a weeks wage and over half of this he gave to his mum!

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