大象传媒

This story has been entered on the website by CSV Volunteer, Ann Toomey, on behalf of the author Barbara Martin, who understands the terms and conditions of the site.

Friday 14th July, 1944 - Why did I not cycle to work on this lovely summer's morning? I don't know, but had I done so, it is doubtful that I would be here typing this story.

Selhurst Railway Station lies between Selhurst Road and Dagnall Park, the tracks (2 main and 2 local) being carried over both roads by strong iron bridges. At about 0830 I left home, walked through the adjoining passage and railway station, crossed Selhurst Road and at about 0835 joined a small queue waiting for a bus into Croydon.

A doodle bug cut out, the following silence seemed so long that a man said "that hasn't got our name on it" when, as I looked over my left shoulder, it was gliding over Selhurst Road railway bridge. We laid in the gutter, I don't remember it exploding, got up, ran through the station and passage in the choking cloud of dirt and dust, yelling at two women who tried to stop me "my mum's in there". Through the front door that was no longer there, I found my bewildered mum, upset because the peas she had been shelling in the scullery scattered when the ceiling came down on her! She ran out of the house and a young man told her all was well .... a few moments earlier he had survived the blast, but the young woman ahead of him was no longer there she, sadly, had been his human shield.

The doodle bug crashed on houses just the other side of the Dagnall Park railway bridge, next to our house ... just about where I would have been had I cycled to work!

Damage - some structural, windows and roof mostly gone, but later that day made habitable by 'first aid' workers, both local and men drafted in, covering up all holes with felt.

Casualties - Blackie, our cat, probably blown off the potting shed roof, had a 'cauliflower' ear and spent a few days at the vet.

Pantry - the blast threw the food helter-skelter mixing broken eggs with pickle, sugar, flour, home-made wine etc., mostly rationed, but useless because of broken glass.

Mantelpiece - in my bedroom moved several inches away from the outside wall, but remained upright and all the ornaments from tiny to a 12" statue remained in place - unbroken!

Toasting fork - blast curled over the flat prongs, improving its efficiency.

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