- Contributed by
- D_Coote
- People in story:
- Mrs Dorothy Coote
- Location of story:
- Purfleet, Essex
- Background to story:
- Civilian
- Article ID:
- A8849415
- Contributed on:
- 26 January 2006
When I was about 12 and lived in Stonehouse lane Purfleet in a farm cottage at Low House Farm and I went to Bushy Bit School. The ‘all clear’ had just sounded when a German bomber appeared through the clouds, flying up Stonehouse Lane. It flew so low you could see the markings on the plane and the pilot at the controls.
As he went over Esso oil tanks he dropped his bombs. There was a massive explosion and we could feel the heat from the fire at home, about ½ a mile away.
I remember the old A13 was lined with tanks, soldiers and DYKW amphibians. The troops and tanks were travelling backwards and forwards to Tilbury docks.
There was a prisoner of war camp near Purfleet School.
My dad was in the Home Guard and patrolled the area every night.
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