The Blitz - 14th November 1940

Brilliant story recounting those terrible years. My mother was 8.1/2 months pregnant with me and so we were evacuated to Stockingford, and I arrived in early December.

That was a great story, so very interesting. Thank you for sharing it.

Wow, what a great story. You think you have had it rough until you read Jiebe's account, most interesting and thanks for sharing. Colin

I was in the Lyric cinema with my older sister when it was flashed on the screen that the sirens were going off and we were given the options of staying and watching the film or leaving. We decided to stay.We knew that one could be as much risk at home as in the cinema. When we left we realised that this was a bigger raid than normal but like most youngsters we thought we were immortal. No Jerry could get us. In fact they did as we were bombed out of two homes. We did'nt have an Anderson shelter and it was'nt till about 1943 that dad obtained a Morrison shelter although I cant recall ever using it. It was hard times for us as my mother died Feb 1940 and that left us three children alone.At that time dad was away at sea,he was a merchant seaman. There was no Social Services to come and rescue us but thanks to my sister and caring neighbours we survived. Dad left the sea and got a job at the old Riley works making aircraft parts but he never did settle down to factory work The strange droning noise that enemy bombers made. We were told that it was because the four engined German bombers had contra rotating props but it was a long time before I understood what that meant. I recall that after every raid we older school children would thave to tour the school grounds looking for nice round holes in the ground made by unexploded bombs. I cant imagine that happening now,sending kids out to look for bombs. I think that this city must still have quite a number of unexploded bombs as a falling bomb going into soft earth can go down 30 ft or so. There really wasnt enough men to try and get them out....Les

Thanks for that, Les. Sorry to hear you had a rough time. I am fascinated by what happened after you left the cinema and realised it was a huge raid... Did you have to get into a shelter or did you try to go home?

Like most people we just went home. I am unable to recall a public shelter in the Holbrooks area though I suppose there must have been. I do remember the shelter in Hall Green Rd as we used to visit somone in that area and if the rest of the city shelters were like that one, it is understandable that people were reluctant to use them. It was a dark, damp, smelly, rat infested hole. If I remember correctly it did'nt even have working lights. The only light was that filtered past the blast wall at the entrance. I remember that one being demolished after the war. In Hall Green Rd there was a large pipe about 2ft in diameter running the whole length of the road. I never did know what its purpose was, perhaps it was a water supply??... Les

72 years ago tonight . . . . . . . . . the loss of my beloved City....... RIP

I don`t remember much from that time, I was just a baby, but I do remember the sirens, I don`t know where the sirens were situated but it sounded quite close ...... We lived in Leicester Causeway .....

Unimaginable to those, like me, young enough not to remember But then, somehow, we DO remember I am reminded that 38 years ago today James McDade was killed by his IRA bomb at the GPO Telephone Exchange

After studying all the photo's lately and even passing by the Civilian Burial Ground at the Cemetery only a few days ago, I had forgotten about the 14th Nov. So, I re-read on our Forum all the details of that night..... Remembering the Blitz

That's different NeilsYard, not seen that one before. A grim reminder, but thank you.

I know NeilsYard, I posted a thread this time last year explaining I had stood outside the cathedral at around 10.30 and tried to imagine the horrors of that fateful evening. I'm trying to put together some words that sum up what happened then and how we (as a collective city) have moved on, with little success. So I'll just say this, Father Forgive.

They say time is a great healer, but the fact that we still show the scars of war in this City, goes to show that we do remember, and don't forget. Many lives were lost not only that fateful night, but in war itself. Our Cathedral has a new purpose in life now. Not only for praying and the gathering of thoughts, but a lasting reminder of what we ALL have lost. It has become a symbol of reflection, A reminder of our lost city, past times and a sign that states, We remember.

I can't recall it as I was born in the year, ending of the rationing, but I do know the stories from what my mum had told me which the word she used to describe it , it was horrific. I do know there were air raid sirens in Scots Lane by the mounds which hold water as they tested it out one year to see if any one would hear them, as I lived close by to Scots Lane at the time.