大象传媒

I was born on 14th September 1935, so was about 5 when the war started. I lived in a very isolated cottage at Catfield in Norfolk. I used to have to cycle two and a half miles to school in Catfield. It was often a dangerous journey because Ludham airfield was situated close by and was a target for German air fire. Often my Mum, who accompanied me, and I used to have to jump off our bikes and take cover in the ditch. One day I was away from school ill and Catfield School was hit by machine gun fire. A bullet went straight through my desk and through my little blackboard which we all kept in our desks. Fortunately, no-one was hurt, but if I had been at school, I could well have been injured, or even killed.

When the big Blitz of Norwich was going on, I was in the Jenny Lind hospital having my tonsils out. I can remember that all water was being used to fight fires and nurses were unable to wash the children. I returned home from hospital with blood stains on my face.

One day an American plane crashed in the meadow next to our cottage. The American Airmen escaped from the plane uninjured and walked to our cottage, but as they were tall, they hit their heads on a low beam at the top of our doorway. It was a local joke that the Americans survived the crash but bumped their heads upon entering a small Norfolk Cottage.

In our cottage we didn't have an air raid shelter but used to get under the bed when there was an air raid. How I envied my cousins in Norwich who had a proper Anderson Shelter in the garden - I thought it was very exciting when the air raid siren sounded when we were visiting and we had to go down into the "dug-out" as we called it. Older cousins belonged to the ARP, and again, I thought it was an exciting role. I particularly admired their smart navy blue uniforms.

When I travelled by train to Great Yarmouth I was impressed by notices stating "Careless Talk Costs Lives". I hardly dared speak in case a spy was listening!

My father ran the Home Guard at Catfield and I can remember a meeting held to discuss what action should be taken if the enemy ever cut the village off. In the event that the Germans did surround the village, it was decided that Mr Hammond would bike to Stalham to collect the bread. So, in true "Dad's Army" manner, it was thought that the enemy would be a benevolent one and allow us to collect essential supplies!

As I was very young at the time, I didn't find wartime frightening at all. There certainly was a marvellous camaraderie which is sadly lacking in communities today, but I am not suggesting that we embark on wars to make people friendlier and more appreciative of what they have got.

Signed: Bridget Gooch

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