Essex

'Shelters' and 'Firewatching'

We had an Anderson Shelter in our back garden, it was dug out of the earth, the roof was aluminium and the...

Bombing of Colchester Hospital - my lucky escape

It dropped the first bomb to fall on Colchester at two minutes to eleven and my appointment was at eleven...

My memories of Coggeshall

Evacuees, mainly from Edmonton in London came to Coggeshall and some were billeted in my home. There were...

A Railwayman's War: Part 4

A German airman with his badly damaged parachute above him, landed somewhere between St.Augustines church...

Working in Chelmsford During the War

I would leave my house in Wickford at 4pm and cycle to Chelmsford in the dark. When I think about the war,...

Creepy-crawlies in the Air Raid Shelter

My Dad bought a mouth organ, so we all had a good old sing song, which drowned out the noise of the...

Air Raid Shelter: In Thurrock

I can remember the Anderson shelter being delivered and placed at the bottom of the garden, remeber my dad...

Memories of Romford

My wife was a “nippy” at the Lyons Tea Shop in Ilford. I remember going past a pub where lots...

Evacuee in the Country

We were sent to Fingeringhoe in Essex which, given it's proximity to the garrison town of Colchester,...

A German POW’s Story

It is about 60 years ago since the first German POWs were here at High Garrett... Initially it was for...

A Dagenham Childhood

We all survived, yet my best friend Eddie Edwards, who lived just 6 doors away was killed along with his...

Looking Back: My Time in the ATS

As told by Mrs Catherine Butler. I was stationed in Southend....

"Friendly Fire" Isn't New

The bombers were in the middle of the formation and escorted by fighters. As we watched one of the fighters...

Being a Teacher during the Air-Raids

Teachers today don't have to contend with such hardships....

Landgirls

I was a teacher in a boys school. We stayed in a school where we slept on the floor and cooked our...

Battle of Britain from Epping Forest

One afternoon my father and I went out cycling to Epping Forest, and we stopped for tea in a tea garden...

When I Was 5 Years Old.

Because Marconi was situated about 100 yards from where we lived. it was prime target for bombing... So...

Strange Coincidence

My father,Chiller Starns, was fighting with the Durhams in Burma... Moved forward and took a hill, no...

An Evacuee’s Experience of Country Living

When the war started, I was seven years old and lived on the Isle of Dogs... My family was bombed out and...

Happy Days vol#1

I was Private May Wallace Serving in Regiment 142 Heavy ack ack Battery. Are Sergent Betty Patterson From...

My Uncle Sid: Killed in an Air Raid on RAF Debden

My dad's brother, Sid collier, was an aircraftman 2nd class with 257 Squadron....

Close Encounter with a V1

One day during the doodlebug era I was with my friend, John, in his back garden... In the usual manner of...

War Time Memories: By a Seven Year Old

But the doctor said to me 'you will get better, but my only son has just been killed in the...

What War?

I was 11 years old when war began and as soon as it was declaredthe air-raid sirens were sounded... As a...

Carter Family: Australian Soldiers in Colchester

The Carter family lived in Blackheath Colchester 1937 -1960....

Shrapnel

My father was the village constable at Great Bentley in Essex... I was the envy of my pals as I had such...