Fireworks over Tilbury

At age 7 I remember distinctly the air raids over Tilbury. Being on a hill overlooking the Thames corridor, we watched the Germans fly toward London and then being chased back by our planes. As the Germans came back they released their bombs, hitting all along the docks and Tilbury houses. As a young boy I was only tall enough to watch this going on through our letterbox. To me it was frightening, but fascinating. Every time there was a raid on it was like bomb fire night. My mum always thought the cupboard under the stairs was safer than the air raid shelter.
I remember the shrapnel coming down like hail. After the raid we would go out collecting the shrapnel even though it was sometimes still hot. We had bucketfuls of shrapnel; some people shined up the best looking pieces and kept them as ornaments.
The tanks were parked from the Orsett Cock roundabout to the Cross Keys pub, and we were told they were going abroad.
I remember hearing the shells leaving the guns that were stationed on Orsett Heath.
I remember when the lorries pulled up around Oxford Avenue and Cambridge Gardens, they were carrying the German prisoners to come and work on building houses.
I remember we had a pet rabbit and at Christmas seeing my Granddad kill skin and gut them, hold them open with sticks and hang them in the scullery to air them, ready for Christmas dinner. Come the New Year we would get new pet rabbits.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.