大象传媒

Further to my last contribution, here is a list of bombs that fell near us in the Blitz. Russell Lane corner of Haslemere Ave, Haslemere Ave, Dene Rd, Beresford Ave. An ARP man was killed in the rescue. Brunswick Park RD near junction with Osidge Lane. This was last night of Blitz May 1941 I actually witnessed this I person killed in subsequent fire. My sister Babs and my Brother-in-law and his brother took part in the rescue. Also that night at same time Woodfield Drive. I went to look at this the next day, disobeying strict instructions from my dad to stay away.

It was an awful sight the houses were just a pile of bricks - don't know if there were any casualties but imagine there must have been. By this time our Anderson shelter was flooded and could not be used. Later a brick street surface shelter was built outside our house and we had a key. However we only used it once.

Then we later had a morrison shelter which was a heavy steel table with wire mesh walls these were very good as they could easily take the weight of a house on top of them. Only minor problem the bolts that held them togethr were murder on a lads knees when trying to get in it in a hurry! When Germany turned on Russia we had a respite from heavy bombing, just having the occasional raid often round about xmas. However our night fighters were getting pretty good then and shot down many of the raiders.We used to go out after a raid nd search for shrapnel and other souveniers.

The trick with shrapnel was to pick it up in your hankie as it was still hot and very jagged and sharp. My best friend had an incendary bomb, which he kept 'til his Dad returned after the war and made him get rid of it!

Later in the war rockets were used in defence the shrapnel from these was different looking like coke and much lighter. Also we found strips of silver foil that the raiders dropped to confuse the Radio location as radar was known then. I will tell about the V weapons next time.

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