大象传媒

I had been in the shelter and was cycling home one night with my cousin when we saw a Messerchmitt coming towards us flying very low.

So low I could see the pilot in the cockpit.

He saw us and we jumped off our bikes and lay in the dirch, luckily it was dry. The bullets were all around us going ping, ping, ping. I was so frightened I nearly wet my drawers.

Then we saw him go away and we climbed out of the ditch and cycled back home and went to work afterwards. This was before I joined the Women's L:and Army.

But I think my clearest memory is when a bomb dropped near our house and my uncle who lived next door kept chickens.

He was all right but when we got up the next morning the trees were full of chicken feathers and chickens. I can see it now when I close my eyes.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Amanda Wilkins on behalf of Jessie Matthews with her permission. Jessie fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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