E18 South Woodford, Woodford
A Boy's Memories of WWIIby Keith Wells |
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I was 8 years old when war was declared and living with my parents and 5 year old sister Valerie in Gordon Road, South Woodford, E18. Our house was semi detached and had 3 bedrooms together with an approx. 200 ft rear garden. |
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We overlooked the houses which backed onto Elmhurst Gardens Park through which one could walk to the Southend Road and eventually George Lane shops and station. |
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My father was 46 years old and was able to carry on his work as an Estate Agent and Surveyor which involved him in War Damage claims. However, apart from Air Raid Warden Duties he was also a driver in the Auxiliary Fire Brigade, a job which was mainly carried out at night. |
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I don’t exactly remember being unduly worried at the prospect of war, but was slightly excited as to what was going to happen. |
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I clearly remember Dad and some neighbours installing an Anderson Air Raid Shelter behind part of a rockery and felling a tree which was split with metal wedges into planks to afford added strength to the roof. The ‘Dog Leg’ entrance led to a thin steel door. My sister and I slept on bunks whilst light and heat was provided by paraffin. |
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We also had a Morrison shelter in our front room which doubled up as a table and somewhere to play ping pong. I vividly remember sheltering in it with mum and Valerie during air raids surrounded by cushions and listening to the sounds of bombs and Ack-Ack guns which were mounted on rolling stock and which moved back and forth along what is now the Central Line only a few hundred yards away from our house. It was awful. |
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The morning after an air raid I used to go hunting for shrapnel which was often still warm and which could be swapped with friends. A complete shell fuse was a special find. |
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One day, I was playing along the embankment above Southend Road and discovered a new looking hole. After I reported it to the Police, the bomb disposal were called and they recovered the unexploded shell. I think I was given some sweets. |
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Dig for Victory resulted in a large part of our back garden being given over to growing vegetables and we already had quite a few fruit trees and bushes. |
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My mother was a keen gardener and she also had a plot in the Park as, although an underground public shelter had been built there and the putting green and tennis courts preserved, the rest had been turned over to food production. She also had a couple of dozen chickens for which she received feed in exchange for eggs. |
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In December 1944, the vegetables looked wonderful in the Park, row upon row of cabbages and brussels and the like. This was until December 8th when a V2 rocket landed amongst them slightly injuring 4 people. Then all that was left as rows and rows of stalks standing there like soldiers. Apparently mum received 10/6d (52 1/2p) compensation from the War Damage Commission. |
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One afternoon in June 1944, I set out to catch a bus on the Southend Road to take me and some friends to Scouts near the Castle. As I walked through the park, the air raid siren was sounded and shortly afterwards I heard the sound of a doodlebug (flying bomb) approaching. I then saw it flying fairly low in front of me and going from my left to right. As I had been taught, I threw myself on the ground and covered my ears with my hands. Eventually it disappeared from my sight and the engine cut out followed by a huge explosion. |
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My friends and I caught the bus which stopped by the Police just past the entrance to Derby Road and opposite the shops. The bomb had fallen in Empress Avenue killing 5 and wounding 9. The wide pavement in front of the shops was covered in debris including the content of the shops. We were directed by the police to clear the area in front of the Toy Shop. What a job to give 13 year olds! |
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After about 1 1/2 hours we were sent on our way and decided to walk to Scouts as the road was impassable. Parked in the curb opposite St Albans Road was a car with the Dicky seat open and covered with tarpaulin. Being inquisitive, I lifted the edge of the tarpaulin only to see 2 bodies with not a mark on them. The blast had killed them. |
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On one occasion a crashed German plane was displayed in the carpark of the Plaza Cinema guarded by a policeman, presumably to deter lads like me from collecting souvenirs. He did however appear to take great pleasure in showing us the bloodstained pilot’s seat in the cockpit. Perspex from aircraft windscreens was ideal for turning into rings which were worn with pride. |
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I can remember climbing over bomb damaged houses although, if seen, we were soon turfed off. |
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Most traders delivered their goods to houses using horses and carts and horse manure was highly sought after for the garden. When a horse was heard in the road it was my job to grab a bucket and spade and lurk in the front garden “just in case”. I then had to race the other ladies to get the prize first. My mother said that I tearfully told her that I didn’t want to do it as my friends were calling me stinker. |
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VE day was celebrated by a street party in our road followed at dusk by a bonfire held on a bomb site near the iron bridge leading to Churchfields. Lots of people had oil soaked rags around sticks and lit. I’m sure there was a Hitler figure on top of the fire. |
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