1941 - The Night the Windows Fell Out

Mr. Maskill the air raid warden opened our shelter door and yelled, "Everybody OK?"

Someone asked, "Is the house still up?"

"Apart from a few windows, yes", replies Mr. Maskill.

The morning of March 14th. 1941, brought the war to our own doorstep. During the night seven of us (five of our own family, two neighbours and Rover the dog) heard the bombs drop. To me as a thirteen-year-old girl it was pure excitement, somehow fear passed me by. We left the air raid shelter early morning, walked down our long garden and into the house. Our kitchen window had disappeared, the rest were intact. Mother put the kettle on and made tea and toast. Then for me the real bomb dropped. Mr. Maskill returned. "Sorry, you have to move out."

It was then I began to cry. "Why, why, why?"

"Well, love," said Mother, "Our house is safe but they have found some unexploded bombs on Hill Road."

Mother packed two suitcases and we were taken to a local school to be allocated accommodation in Castleford. We stayed there almost a week and then were allowed home.

On the Sunday morning Churchfield Lane was full of sightseeing strangers. "Get the flag out," said Dad. We had a very large Union Jack we called Grandad's Banner. Mother put it on the floor near our front gate and we collected money from the passers-by for the Spitfire fund.

Later we were given two stick pins of miniature Spitfires, one for me and one for my brother Victor.

[Written by Jean Aldersea]

Bombed Castleford House

Picture from:

Wakefield Metropolitan District Libraries and Information Services

Local Studies Collection

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