Brotherton Wing Bomber

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Bill Ross of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Joan Ramsbottom, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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During WW2, I was working as a nurse at Leeds General Infirmary. A new wing called the Brotherton Wing had been opened, so it was decided to use the footings under the Brotherton Wing as an air raid shelter for the staff that might be needed in case of an emergency.

We had to report for duty in full nurse’s uniform, including white aprons and gas masks. We were then taken down under the ward floorboards and were provided with a thin mattress to sleep on.

On the night of the 14/15th of March 1941, a bomb fell through the entrance of the Brotherton Wing, which was just opposite the Civic Hall. The bomb went straight through the floor and into the foundations where we were sleeping. There were 90 staff in there at the time, but no one was injured because the bomb did not explode. It did however, sever the water main and the water poured into our footings shelter. Home sister came down to us and after checking that no one was injured, said, “Come on girls, you are all going to get your feet wet.”

They did not put us under the Brotherton Wing any more; instead, we were put under the V.D. Department near the boiler room.

Pr-BR

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