- Contributed by
- Lancshomeguard
- People in story:
- George Bodden , wife Jean Bodden and her mother.
- Location of story:
- : Greenfield near Oldham, Lancs
- Background to story:
- Civilian
- Article ID:
- A4606120
- Contributed on:
- 29 July 2005
This story has been submitted to the People’s War website by Peter Quinn of the Lancs. Home Guard on behalf of Michael Bodden (son) and has been added to the site with Mr Bodden’s permission
About 1943, my father and mother, George and Jean Bodden, were publicans at The Duke of Wellington, Greenfield. The rumour went around that German paratroopers had landed on Saddleworth Moor. My mother and grandmother made enough provisions for several weeks living rough on the Moor and Dad, who was in the Home Guard, prepared to set off to find them.
He was a shooting man himself and before leaving, loaded two shotguns; the second of which he handed to my mum saying, “If the Germans appear before I get back, the first barrel’s for your mother and the second one is for you!” My mother’s reply was the she had different plans for their survival which DIDN’T include shooting Gran!
Dad was back a few hours later, pretty fed up and tired — the “parachutists “ having been identified as a rogue barrage balloon!
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