The Doodlebug and the Ditch

This account was taken from Mary Mason by Denis Price of the People's War Team, The BBC Open Centre ,Hull.

I was fifteen years old and walking down a lane on my way home and quite oblivious to what was going on around me. Suddenly a man who had been walking behind me grabbed me and threw me into a ditch. Being more aware than me he had heard and recognised the engine noise of an approaching 'doodlebug' rocket. I've been told that the sound of these rockets was similar to that of a motorbike engine and the time to worry was when the engine noise suddenly stopped. This meant that the 'doodlebug' was about to drop and explode in your vicinity. Thank goodness it was summertime and the ditch was empty and dry so other than being very shaken by the whole experience I was well and unharmed. The 'doodlebug' exploded a few fields away so I thanked my rescuer and told him I was well enough to walk home which I did. An experience never to be forgotten.

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