Holy City

I was 6 year old boy at the time when in December 1940 a Land-mine was dropped and landed on the Liberal Club Quarry Bank Bombing raids were taking place over Bimingham and Coventry at that time in the war. As a boy I shall never forget the sights of red glows in the night sky after retuning from our neighbours shelter to my bed after the all clear had sounded. My Dad was not home he had joined up to do his bit. We lived at Thornhill Road 10 miles from Birmingham as the planes flew.Charles Hartles was a month older than me but we took what little comfort from each other at that time.The Land-mine that was dropped must have fallen short of the target intended so the ARP's said. Most of Quarry Bank residents were evacuated that night. I lived 1 mile away we were not evacuted, my friend Alan Taylor his Mom had a shop yards away from the Liberal Club on that night his Dad was at a commitee meeting. Hearing a loud thud he went down stairs banged his head on something dangling held by cords (blackout proceduers existed)ARP person was at that meeting also and alerted the police and Frank Webb builders. It was successfuly defused Frank Webb played a big part in saving Quarry Bank from distruction. Before the bombing raids on Birmingham and Coventry stopped Quarry Bank had a bomb dropped at Mary Stephens Park which never exploded I lived half mile away. That bomb has never been found it is said it went down mine shafts which the area was noted for. The crater that bomb made remained open for weeks at the main gates of the park as kids we visited it every day. The Delph 1 mile away from me a bomb was dropped for what ever the reason it only shattered a few windows.Quarry Bank was named as 'The Holy City'

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