大象传媒

It was February 18 / 1944, I was 13 years old and lived on Westfield Road, Hornsey N.8.

That night we had one of the last big air raids on the city.
It wasn't long after midnight that we were awakened by the air raid sirens. We had stopped sleeping in our Anderson shelter in early 1942. When the anti-craft guns started fireing and flares started dropping overhead, we would take cover in the lower level of our house, away from any windows and flying glass.
Suddenly all hell broke loose, every gun in the neighbour-hood opened up, and the area was lit by flares. To a 13 year old it was all very exciting and the thought of danger didn't really register.
We heard the next day that ' Wilsons Drapery Store' in Crouch End had been destroyed by incendiary bombs.

A day or so later, a school chum and I decided to check out the site after school. The rubbble was still smoldering and the area was roped off. Venturing as close as we dared, we noticed several holes in the surrounding grassy area. On investigating, we discovered that they were caused by incendiary bombs landing on soft earth and not detonating. This was a far better find than the shrapnel that we used to hunt for after a raid. Cautiously we retrieved two each, and as we were wearing our raincoats, were able to tuck one in each pocket without it being to obvious.
On reaching home, I decided the best place to hide them would be our coal-cellar under the coal.
All was fine for several weeks, until one day, after filling the coal-scuttle, my Mother came back upstairs to show my Father the strange object she had found amongst the coal.

I don't know what happened to my 'souvenirs', but I do remember getting a severe lecture.

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