大象传媒

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

Story related by Douglas about his brother and sister in law Charlie and Gladys Banfield during the blitz on Bristol November 1940. Gladys was ill in bed downstairs at their home in Lower Bright Street Kingswood when an attack occured. This was a night time raid.Charlie was prompted by some noise outside and rushed out to find the sky was lit up by flares. Realising that a raid was taking place he rushed back into the house and picked his wife up in his arms and carried her through the backdoor to the Anderson shelter in the back garden. As he got to the entrance of the shelter a tremendous explosion occured, which was later identified as a landmine that had hit a small orchard near the house. The result of the explosion destroyed the orchard and several buildings nearby and blew him and his wife into the shelter.
Sometime after the all clear was sounded, Charlie ventured out and found the house had been severly damaged, the house having virtually turned on its foundation twisting the staircase. Charlie realised how fortunate he was as the fire grate had been blown into the bed where Gladys had been sleeping. Metal from the fireplace had also gone through lintels over the door. Charlie also found that his chickens had lost all their feathers and were bald, unfortunately they later died. This in particular made him very mad and he expressed his desire to strangle Hitler with his bare hands.

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