My Mum and the Blitz

I am the child of a WWII marriage. My father was a GI attached to HQ and HQ Squadron, 8th (US) Army Air Force at High Wycombe, Bucks. My mother was a Hampshire woman drafted into work at an aircraft factory near High Wycombe when they met, but this is a London Blitz story and very short.

Once, when Mum was on leave, she went to London with some friends. The Luftwaffe chose one of the nights of her leave for a raid. As she was walking down the street, a Bobby, in a shelter, called to her and said, "Here, Miss, pop in here and put this on," handing her a "tin hat". Mum did as suggested and just moments later a piece of shrapnel hit her on the helmet.

If it were not for the kindness and foresight of that Bobby, my mother would have been another victim of the Blitz, she would not have met my father and I would not be submiitting this story to the BBC!

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