The Paper Boy

This story was submitted to the People’s war website by Katherine Shakespeare on behalf of Frederick Hodges and has been added to this site with his permission. Frederick Hodges fully understand the site’s terms and conditions.

This is a story told to me by my brother who does not wish to be contacted. During late 1940 when Coventry was being bombed I was delivering newspapers in Bramble Street off Gulson road one morning after a raid. In the road stood a policeman who turned towards me and said, “What are you doing here?” “Delivering my papers”, I replied. He said “Didn’t you see the notice that this street is closed?” “No” I simply said. He then gestured to his side and said, “Come with me”. He led me to a hole in the road by the pub. “Do you know what that is?” he asked and I looked down and saw the fins of a bomb. “It’s a bomb,” I said looking at him. “Yes” he said, “Now clear off and don’t come down here again until the street is clear” Needless to say I didn’t stray down that road again!
The pub mentioned is believed to be the “Hare and Hounds” which can still be found in the road after being rebuilt after the war.

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