- Contributed byÌý
- Braintree Library
- People in story:Ìý
- Margaret Jaye
- Location of story:Ìý
- Chadwell Heath, Essex
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A3213389
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 02 November 2004
I lived in Chadwell Heath from the age of 1 until I moved to Braintree in 1976. This of course included the War years and at the height of the bombing we were a main target with munition factories in this area.
One particular heavy raid demolished a row of shops right at the top of our road. My father was on duty as an Air Raid Warden and came back home with a little family - Mum, Dad and 2 small boys covered in dust and debris. They lived in a flat over one of the shops. They stayed the night with us in our shelter and in the morning when the All Clear sounded were grateful to have a bath. Instead of 2 blackened heads the 2 little boys had lovely blonde hair!
MOVE FORWARD 30 YEARS APPROX 1972...
I was sitting in the waiting room of Chelmsford Hospital waiting for my daughter and grandson who had fallen and broken his arm. Through the door came a handsome young ambulance driver. He took one look at me, came over and said "Did you live in Chadwell Heath during the War?". I replied "Yes" and he said "Do you remember one very bad raid when an Air Raid Warden took us to his home". I said "That was my Dad" and he replied "Yes, I know, I was one of those little boys"
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