We also went on the stairs to the basement so we could shelter under a main beam ............. that's mum, dad, older brother and me. Plus, my grandparents and my youngest uncle would come across the street to join us.
This is up north in Oldham, Lancashire.
The one I really remember is the VI that landed on Abbeyhills Road on early in the morning of December 24 1944, less than half-a-mile from our house. It is believed that the V1 or doodlebug was intended for Manchester, but fell short. I was just about to turn 5.
I can remember 3 things about that .......
One, screaming my silly head off most of the time, and my grandmother trying to comfort me and saying "she's really frightened"
Second, looking out the front window the next morning to realise that we were the only house in the street that still had windows because Dad had gone round and unlatched them all before joining us on the stairs. The street was carpeted in broken glass, and my grandparents' fox terrier was picking his way across from their back gate to our house. He had jumped out of the glassless window into the backyard, found the gate also blown open, and knew to come to us.
He made it without a single scratch on his paws.
Third, going down to the site and seeing the utter devastation.
The VI fell squarely on one house, but badly damaged several others. 27 people were killed, 49 injured. A wedding had been held the previous day, and many of the wedding party were sleeping in one or other of those houses. A number of them were killed, luckily the bride and groom were sleeping elsewhere..
The houses were re-built after the war in a very similar style, but you can tell the new from the old. I understand Oldham Council held a ceremony in 2014 to mark the 70th anniversary, unveiling a plaque on the house with the same number as the one where the V1 had landed.
Several other bombs fell on Oldham, and one was only discovered buried on a school playing field (!!!) about 5 years ago
This is up north in Oldham, Lancashire.
The one I really remember is the VI that landed on Abbeyhills Road on early in the morning of December 24 1944, less than half-a-mile from our house. It is believed that the V1 or doodlebug was intended for Manchester, but fell short. I was just about to turn 5.
I can remember 3 things about that .......
One, screaming my silly head off most of the time, and my grandmother trying to comfort me and saying "she's really frightened"
Second, looking out the front window the next morning to realise that we were the only house in the street that still had windows because Dad had gone round and unlatched them all before joining us on the stairs. The street was carpeted in broken glass, and my grandparents' fox terrier was picking his way across from their back gate to our house. He had jumped out of the glassless window into the backyard, found the gate also blown open, and knew to come to us.
He made it without a single scratch on his paws.
Third, going down to the site and seeing the utter devastation.
The VI fell squarely on one house, but badly damaged several others. 27 people were killed, 49 injured. A wedding had been held the previous day, and many of the wedding party were sleeping in one or other of those houses. A number of them were killed, luckily the bride and groom were sleeping elsewhere..
The houses were re-built after the war in a very similar style, but you can tell the new from the old. I understand Oldham Council held a ceremony in 2014 to mark the 70th anniversary, unveiling a plaque on the house with the same number as the one where the V1 had landed.
Several other bombs fell on Oldham, and one was only discovered buried on a school playing field (!!!) about 5 years ago
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