Britain During The Blitz

The Blitz
September 1940-May 1941

After one of the raids, we energed from our Anderson shelter. The first thing you seem to look for is your house, you just pray that it is still standing. Then we looked up the street from our back garden to see where the 'big one' had gone off. We had heard it and the shelter shook and pieces of earth dropped down out of the joints, we knew that it had been close. Then we saw the Harbutt's house three doors up the road, they were lifelong friends of ours, we had grown up in the same street together, even gone to the same school. Now, the house had been flattened and small areas of flame could be seen, then a portion of the front wall and floor collapsed bringing down the bed and wardrobe smashing it to pieces.
We ran up to the debris, that was all was now and looked for the Harbutt's, there was no sign of them. 'God I hope that they were not in house' I thought, the shelter, at the back. We rushed around but all was quiet, not a sign of anybody, but it was dark so another neighbour who had thought to bring a torch shone it inside. It was terrible, there was no damage, but all had burns to their exposed skin many still tight against their bones, the young girl had blood coming from her mouth and ears. They were just killed by the force of such a close blast.

Enid Turner East Ham London.


BBC - History - The Blitz (pictures, video, facts & news)