My mother moved to London from Saskatchewan in Canada in 1937 to go to London University. She stayed in College Hall, a women's residence just behind the British Museum. She was still there in September 1940. I saw a map of the bomb hits on London. The three block street the residence was on was hit six times. The experience in September convinced her that she should come home, so the next month she crossed the Atlantic in an unescorted ocean liner. Six weeks after she left a bomb came into the Hall's so called air raid shelter and killed everyone in it.
I was Born in Hillsborough Sheffield in 1946 so most of the Stories regarding the War were what my Mom told me and in Our Garden was an Air aid Shelter which was dug up and I remember playing in it as a Child. My Mom told me when I was old enough to understand that one evening as the Sirens went off She was delayed running to the Shelter and a German Plane was Flying overhead and She just stood there frozen to the Spot while everyone was shouting Her Name to get into the Shelter luckily She did but not before She saw a Bomb being dropped from the Plane it was the one that landed on Hillsborough and She said the next day nearly all the Shops in Hillsborough had gone , also surrounding Roads like Hawksley Avenue had been Hit killing many People. Eventually New Shops were built and House's, but I have never forgotten that Story and how lucky Our House was still standing when She came out of the Shelter.
I can relate to this having been born in 1931. I can remember most of the events of the time, most especially the throbbing drone of the approaching bomber formations, and the distinctive sound of the V1s. I have watched several of these Blitz videos recently, most of which have been excellent, but I have to say that I have been very disappointed by the standard of many of the posted comments. I have been amazed at the level of ignorance displayed, sometimes even by presenters of the material, and I have been often incensed by those who weren't there and know nothing of the realities of living in a war, blatantly telling those of us who were there, what it was like and what we did or didn't do that was right or wrong.
To say the "LOO" smelt like disappointment LOL!!!, Thank you Sir for that good laugh, although I do understand the seriousness of the situation mind you, know what else smells like "Disappointment" the "Youth" now, of course there are always a few exceptions mind you.
Difficult back then to target properly. You could target a rail junction where there were zero people and the bombs would blow off to a school a quarter of a mile away.
I could listen to these stories all day.
My mother moved to London from Saskatchewan in Canada in 1937 to go to London University. She stayed in College Hall, a women's residence just behind the British Museum. She was still there in September 1940. I saw a map of the bomb hits on London. The three block street the residence was on was hit six times.
The experience in September convinced her that she should come home, so the next month she crossed the Atlantic in an unescorted ocean liner. Six weeks after she left a bomb came into the Hall's so called air raid shelter and killed everyone in it.
Alan, you so calmly tell these horrifying stories. I'm so glad your mama sent you back to get your sister. How sad for the teachers.
A fascinating story from start to finish
Amazing stories!
thank you for uploading this
Pretty great story
This is Gold
I was Born in Hillsborough Sheffield in 1946 so most of the Stories regarding the War were what my Mom told me and in Our Garden was an Air aid Shelter which was dug up and I remember playing in it as a Child. My Mom told me when I was old enough to understand that one evening as the Sirens went off She was delayed running to the Shelter and a German Plane was Flying overhead and She just stood there frozen to the Spot while everyone was shouting Her Name to get into the Shelter luckily She did but not before She saw a Bomb being dropped from the Plane it was the one that landed on Hillsborough and She said the next day nearly all the Shops in Hillsborough had gone , also surrounding Roads like Hawksley Avenue had been Hit killing many People. Eventually New Shops were built and House's, but I have never forgotten that Story and how lucky Our House was still standing when She came out of the Shelter.
Thankyou
I can relate to this having been born in 1931. I can remember most of the events of the time, most especially the throbbing drone of the approaching bomber formations, and the distinctive sound of the V1s. I have watched several of these Blitz videos recently, most of which have been excellent, but I have to say that I have been very disappointed by the standard of many of the posted comments. I have been amazed at the level of ignorance displayed, sometimes even by presenters of the material, and I have been often incensed by those who weren't there and know nothing of the realities of living in a war, blatantly telling those of us who were there, what it was like and what we did or didn't do that was right or wrong.
I wish kids today could at least try to understand what happened to this man and those of his generation.
Interesting how children perceived the war
Retired teachers brought out of retirement to relieve younger adults for the war effort. Seemed to be the practice in the US also.
To say the "LOO" smelt like disappointment LOL!!!, Thank you Sir for that good laugh, although I do understand the seriousness of the situation mind you, know what else smells like "Disappointment" the "Youth" now, of course there are always a few exceptions mind you.
isnt it a war crime to target civilians during war ?
Britain did the same to Germany. I think it was Dresden where people died of suffocation because the were being bombed day and night
Difficult back then to target properly. You could target a rail junction where there were zero people and the bombs would blow off to a school a quarter of a mile away.
internetguy. I wish you idealistic, naive, idiots wouldn't keep posting stupid comments. War was war.