V2 rocket falling in Biscot Road

This story was submitted to the People’s War Site by Three Counties Action, on behalf of Patricia Boxford, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

My Mother, Dorothy Bottrill of 97, Alder Crescent, Luton, recalled her memories of the V2 rocket falling in Biscot Road.

St. Andrew’s church had no proper Vicarage then and the church had a house in Biscot Road nearly opposite George Kent’s factory, which served as a vicarage. One day, when Luton Girl’s High School had been given an extra days holiday, there was an explosion in the morning and we soon learned that a V2 rocket had fallen in Biscot Road. As it was confirmation class night for my elder daughter Monica, we thought it best to go in the afternoon and enquire if the class was to be held. We found that just beyond Blenheim Crescent, Biscot Road had been cordoned off with Air Raid Wardens and Police on guard but they let us through the barrier. The V2 rocket (impact before sound) had destroyed Commer Car’s Canteen and one side of Curzon Road. Some buildings were completely destroyed and others had just the windows blown out with ragged curtains flapping in the wind. We knocked on the door of St. Andrew’s House and Mr Bradbury, the vicar, came to the door. In answer to our query he said, “Oh yes, the confirmation class must still go on!” At the time of the confirmation, the Bishop was only allowed enough petrol to get to one Church and that year the Church was St. Matthew’s. I asked someone at Cubs once what would happen to the boys in the air-raid. I was told “We would put them in the Church as ‘THEY’ would never bomb a Church” but I had my doubts. It was such a wonderful sight at the end of the War when all the lights went back on after six years of blackouts and darkness.

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