大象传媒

I started working at Hawker Siddley in 1934 aged 15 as an apprentice. In 1936 I transferred to Weybridge. My first job was installing engines, the Rolls Royce Merlin Mk II in the Hurricane aircraft. Gradually I worked my way through the factory. I worked on the wings fitting the flaps and my main job was fitting tail plane complete assemblies. Jigs had to be fitted for the inspection department. When adjustments were needed they were done and the plane was re-inspected by the Air ministry Inspection Department.

One morning in 1940 I was checking all the Home Guard equipment in the Home Guard hanger after my normal work shift. It was a clear, dry morning. Suddenly all the sirens sounded. I left the hanger and ran to the top of the embankment which encircled the Brooklands race track. I lay down at the Byfleet end with two or three other people who also hadn鈥檛 had time to reach the dugout. There was a huge amount of gunfire. We looked up and saw an enemy aircraft approaching. He dropped his bombs on the Vickers Armstrong factory in Weybridge who were producing Wellington bombers. There was a huge column of smoke from Vickers and the plane continued towards us. As it flew overhead we ducked down into the long grass. It swung round towards Walton. As we watched from the embankment a Hurricane followed in hot pursuit. Suddenly there was a huge explosion and we learned later that the Hurricane had been shot down.

After the bombing there was a deathly hush followed by a huge commotion as emergency services swung into action. We waited for some time until we were sure the plane had left and then returned to the hanger. It was a great shock to discover that whilst Hawkers had escaped unscathed, the Home Guard hanger and the garage had been badly damaged. My motor cycle had been blown over by the force of the blast, but fortunately was not badly damaged and we were allowed to go home early!!

After this incident I remained at Weybridge for about 2 years until in 1942 I moved with the factory to Langley.

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