Memoirs
of the raids on Leicester during 1940.
At the time of the Cavendish Road daylight
raid on 21st August 1940 my friend Geoff Ireland and myself (We
both lived in Trafford Road off the Humberstone Road. and were 11
at the time) had gone to Humberstone Park to fish for sticklebacks
in the brook. I had treated myself to a new penny net. We heard
the bombs fall before the siren went and when the siren sounded
we dropped our fishing tackle and ran for home. As we ran down Humberstone
Road people called us to come into their shelters but we were determined
to get home. Geoff ran down his entry at the top of Trafford Road
and I ran on to No. 47. As I ran down the entry the all clear
sounded. We returned to Humberstone Park but someone had pinched
my new net!
On the night of the November 19th raid my
sister Pam and I were alone in the house in Trafford Road. My father
was reserved as a Bus Driver and was on Duty, My Mother was teaching
at Moat Road. night school (now-a-days we would have been in more
danger from the Social Services than the Germans!). We ran down
the garden to the Anderson Shelter and the first bomb was falling
as we went through the opening. Our near neighbours the Cundys
joined us minutes later. Although no bombs fell near us I distinctly
remember the high-pitched tinkle of bricks falling. My Mother and
Father managed to get home in the early hours after the raid and
I can remember the excited reunion on the lawn. Although I can appreciate
the horror that some people suffered I can only remember the feeling
of excitement rather than fear.
The next morning Geoff Ireland and I went
on the Tram to the City Boys School but they could not pass
Freeman Hardy & Willis which was still burning, so we got off
and went round the back streets to school. Our Form Master Mr Hancocks
arrived a bit late to take the Roll call still in firemans
uniform and very dirty and unshaven. After school the Trams were
not running so we had to walk home. If my memory serves me right
we went up London Road. across to East Park Road and diverted at
least once because of damage or unexploded bombs. The Grandfather
of my wife, Barbara (nee Rennison) was Harry Bowerman (at some time
Alderman). He was a denist and his surgery was on the corner of
Frank Street and Humberstone Road. He lost his surgery in the Frank
Street bomb, and had to be relocated on the corner further down
Humberstone Road (Spinney Hill Road, I think).
By G. Phillips
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