大象传媒

This story was recounted to me by my mother many times!
Like many people in London, my grandmother who owned the house decided to have the cellar shored up to use as an air-raid shelter. They all slept there at night, including my grandfather (who was a member of the Heavy Rescue),Grandmother, Mother, and my Father and Uncle when they were home on leave. My Mother's friend and her Mother also slept there.
One night there was particularly heavy bombing of London's East End and the house took a direct hit and was totally destroyed. It was so flat that the rescue people thought that no one could possibly be alive, especially as a gas main had also burst and some people in their cellar in the next street had been gassed.
However, a neighbour refused to let them leave and they managed to uncover the coal-hole. True enough, my family were all totally unscathed, and were extricated through the coal shute! All due to the persistence of the neighbour, or I would not be here today. I still have a vase which suvived unscratched and had bounced down the road!
My Mother lost her wedding trousseau but she and my Father were still married a month later on Christmas Day 1940 in borowed clothes- a tribute to their determination.

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