The night they bombed Leicester : November 1940

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Audrey Peach. She fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was staying with my grandmother in Knighton and in the late afternoon we went to visit her sister in Evington.

It was getting darkish when we left my Great Aunt’s house to get the tram from Evington to Knighton train terminus. When we got to the corner of Evington Road and London Road, by Victoria Park, the siren went and we could see the incendiary bombs coming down over the city. Grandmother wanted to get off the tram but we weren’t allowed to do so — the conductor’s word was law! The tram lights were switched off and we carried on to the Terminus.

As we got off the tram we had to go up round Knighton Parks Road by the Wheatsheaf factory, which was engaged in war work. We then turned into Shelly Street, a street of terraced houses with entries, and as we walked along the street a a plane appeared over the Wheatsheaf, flying low over the houses in Shelley Street. The guns were firing, so Gran pulled me into an entry and we waited for several minutes until she thought it was safe to move.

We then continued up the street to Herrick Road to Gran’s house. As we walked down Herrick Road, who should be standing at his front gate but my Grandfather with his dog. Clutched in his hand was his usual jug of beer from the local Off Licence — he had just stood there throughout the danger, watching the activities. Nothing was going to part him from his daily treat. His only statement was, “Oh, I’m glad you’re back, I wondered where you had got to”. So much for HIS concern.

Following our experience, Gran and I spent the next three nights in the underground shelters near the Wheatsheaf - but needless to say, my “fearless” Grandad did not come with us.

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