- Contributed byÌý
- N_Weal
- People in story:Ìý
- Norman Weal
- Location of story:Ìý
- West Thurrock, Essex
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A8855797
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 26 January 2006
I used to play the piano in the Queens Hotel (Grays) with the ‘Sid Gun’ band. This was during WW2. He was a bloody good landlord and kept us supplied with beer.
I was with my father one night and we were in the Wouldham Club in South Stifford. Wouldham Cement Works used to leave dust everywhere. I went with dad to a whist drive and when we came out dust was everywhere. A bomb (possibly a V2) had dropped in Palmerston Road and we lived very nearby in London Road. We had had a few drinks and when we got home dad got his key out and went to put it in the door — but the door wasn’t there!! The door was on the stairs and the ceilings were all down. Me and my wife had our wedding presents out as we had just got married and they were all ruined. There wasn’t a bit of glass left in the house.
When we got married in June 1944 the doodlebugs were going over during the ceremony. The Vicar said ‘Well you can tell people you got married in an air raid!’. This was at Grays Parish Church.
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