My Encounters with Doodlebugs

One of my most vivid memories towards the end of the war was when the V1s started. In June 1944 when I was fourteen my parents and I were to spend the weekend at my grandmother’s, which involved travelling by train across London from Ilford in the north to Sutton in the south. In the morning at home there was a very long all-clear siren (without any previous warning) which went on and on, and we all wondered what it meant — parachutists, etc? — however, as nothing happened I eventually went to school for the afternoon, and then we set off.

As we walked up the road from Belmont station towards my grandmother’s house we heard a loud vibrating roaring noise and saw what looked rather like a very large model plane with flames coming out at the back flying across just over the trees in front of us. It disappeared from sight, and not long afterwards the noise stopped and some seconds later we heard a loud explosion. It was our introduction to doodlebugs! They continued coming over throughout the weekend, cutting out overhead, but luckily for us exploding just a few miles ahead around Sutton and Croydon. I can remember feeling very frightened and sleeping under a table, while my father reported on them from the garden.

Back home again I suppose we got used to them and they just became a fact of life, as I can’t remember much else about them. However, my mother later passed on to me a letter she had written to her sister, Frances, which gives some idea of life at the time.

"19, Spearpoint Gdns.,
Ilford.
27th June 1944
Tuesday morning
Dear France,
Many thanks for the coupons just arrived. I have to go into Ilford to get our new ration books, so am writing this after breakfast while the water gets hot for a spot of washing and can post it right back after making my purchase.
Glad to hear you are bearing up under the raids and that things seem a bit easier. Am glad you didn’t come over. Our first night after leaving Belmont was so comfortable that we imagined ourselves out of reach, but things have steadily got worse. Yesterday was our worst daytime, the Alert lasted from 1 o’clock until five and they fell round us all the time. Mrs. Hutchens asked if she could come in with me, as she is rather nervous.
Barbara goes to school afternoons only, as they are holding the Matric. Exams, and up to yesterday (Alert again 8.30) they made the candidates sit right through any Alert, but yesterday there were so many and so close that they were taken into the shelters under strict orders of silence. The girls were told to put their fingers in their mouths to avoid shock so you can guess they were near. It is very unfair to the candidates, don’t you think?
Mrs. Sawyer next door but one had her sister and husband up from Seven Kings yesterday morning. Their house had been struck with four others and their home smashed, 2 a.m. Sunday night, 3 people killed. They were in an Anderson. They were bombed out from Brixton in the blitz. And Mrs. Summerell’s people who were bombed out from East Ham must be feeling it. They settled in Colliers Row on the way to Romford and the milkman tells me they have had a lot of damage there.
Last night we had some awfully low and near ones come over, but they seem a different kind, and Walter says the guns caught a good many of them. We get a good bit of gunfire near now. Don’t know whether to be glad or sorry. Let’s hope they soon capture the Pas de Calais, but I expect it is a difficult part to take.
As you say, it would be nice to get away, but not so easily done. One can’t just walk out and leave home and husband, and perhaps things will ease up soon.
I packed a couple of cases last night with our best coats and shoes in, etc. We kept them like that during the blitz . It is a good thing in case the place is damaged and you have to get out quickly.
Glad to hear that Richard and the baby are taking it in good part, also that the dairy still functions. We shall have to have another re-union when this blitz finishes, and there is comfort in the thought that this ought to be the last.
Will now write a note to Mab in answer to her letter and then off to the washtub. Barbara is still asleep. Luckily she sleeps through quite a lot.
Love to you all,
Your affectionate sister,
Gladys
Wed.
Have just been out and bought the stuff. Yesterday afternoon was so stormy and with Alerts into the bargain. I couldn’t get out until just before 6 when I managed to get to the Town Hall for the new ration books. Only 3 people there. We had a good night but a lot of them over this morning. B. stayed home but the All Clear went just in time for her music lesson.
Hope these things won’t last too long. They get you down, don’t they? I feel like a nice quiet three hours seeing a good picture. What a hope!
Hope you are managing to get those things done which must be done. It is a struggle, I guess. Am wondering how Mum is getting on alone, also Mab in the City. One dropped just outside Kings X goods yesterday. Walter was out to lunch and up at Euston, so he missed it.
Love to you all,
Gladys
Many thanks again for the coupons. Have got Tricolene, lovely stuff for wear, but 6/5 a yard."

I do remember one very strange experience. Once the doodlebugs had gone over we used to go to the front porch and wait to hear them cut out and the following explosion. One time in the following silence we were standing there chatting to our next-door neighbours, when I suddenly interrupted, pointing across the road and saying “Look!” I had seen a shimmering line of air floating across the road towards us, rather like the ripple from a stone thrown in a pond, and as this shimmering line actually reached us we heard the noise of the explosion. I think it must have been the shock wave of the explosion travelling from the direction of Barkingside.

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