大象传媒

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

John was born in Ellen Burrell Buildings and when we had the big blitz one evening, both sides of the road were damaged. Ours was missed by a couple of houses. We lived in No8 and No9 onwards was lost.

Everyone was in the shelter. A young man was on leave and desperately wanted a cigarette and went out and was killed be the bombs.

Behind our houses was Gordeney House, so John and his friend - Brian Baker - used to climb over the wall to find apples. We found this young man's foot in its boot, which to us was a great adventure.

A land mine dropped and there was a huge crater. A despatch rider went into it and rode out the other side.

There was a huge blitz one Sunday, John was in a friend's house in Amberville East. They weren't allowed out and had to stay in the basement. When the raid eased off about 10pm, John came along the top towards home but the street was hot where the tar was burning. All the timber towards the dock was on fire, which John was awed by. Next thing he knew, his father was slapping him because he'd been out looking for him for ages and had been very worried - it was the first time his father had ever hit him.

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