大象传媒

One evening in September 1940 in Chelsea, my sister Ada, her fiance Harry and I were at home with the family in Tetcott Road when the sirens went. Harry and I wrapped up warmly and rushed to offer what help we could. Our first encounter was at my Aunt's house in Meek street. Something had dropped in the attic rooms. Harrry and I dashed up to find the attic burning. Luckily no explosive incendiary bombs had landed up there. We grabbed the sand buckets and doused the fires. Next we crossed into Lots Road and heard noises from the horses in a stable. They were banging their hooves and whining as their stables were alight. We smashed open the side door of the stables, managed to get inside and opened the large stable doors. The horses dashed out and fled. Further along Lots Road was a storage depot called The Overland. The caretaker shouted for help as some of the items were on fire. We went inside and tried to work the stirrup pump to douse the burning boxes. Poor Harry was pumping hard whilst I held the jet but the pressure was low and only a trickle came out. It was like a drop in the ocean. I remember shouting to him "Pump harder Harry, I want more water".