- Contributed byÌý
- Billericay Library
- People in story:Ìý
- Denis Bradford, Mrs Hills
- Location of story:Ìý
- Clapham, London
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A3315692
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 23 November 2004
You often wander how people will behave under fire but when it comes to the pinch ….
In 1944 I had chicken pox and wasn’t allowed to sleep down the shelter at the block of flats I lived in so had to hide under the table when doodlebugs were about…
One afternoon at this time the siren had gone, and the next door neighbour was home with her 4 month old baby. I sent mother down and waited for the lady next door with her baby, While waiting I could hear a doodlebug coming towards us, it got quite loud and the engine cut out above us. I turned ready to run but by this time the neighbour and baby had come to the door. I pushed her back down the passage where there was no glass. The doodlebug dropped less than 200 yards away. It had come so close in the last second or so I could hear the whistle as it passed over head. We survived though… a terrifying experience. Survival instinct is very strong.
We got into shelter later on. While walking back another doodlebug came I pushed in the queue this time and went down the shelter as quickly as I could.
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