I will never forget night of November 19, 1940

THE article on the Leicester Blitz brought back some vivid memories to me (“November 19, 1940: Night the bombs rained on the city”, Mercury, November 19).

I was a nine-year-old pupil at Caldecote Road Junior School and that particular evening my mother and I visited my mother’s friend in Belton Road, Braunstone, and we left just after 7pm.

The government had brought in double British Summer Time so it had not been dark for very long.

As we crossed Narborough Road, we heard the sound of bombers and shortly after the sirens sounded warning us of an attack.

From out of nowhere, an ARP warden appeared and told us to go into a street shelter and he said: “Leicester’s going to cop it tonight”.

However, as we were only four or five blocks away from where we lived, we decided to press on.

The night sky suddenly lit up with a bright luminous light, flares were being dropped and it was an eerie sight. Very frightening and my legs turned to jelly!

Another ARP warden ordered us into the street shelter and stay there until the “all clear” sounded.

The shelter was at the corner of Hopefield Road and Narborough Road. We sat on wooden benches and the only light we had was from two candles but some of the people already there had brought torches.

We then heard the sounds of bombs being dropped in the distance continuously.

Some time later, the bombing seemed to get nearer and the ground shook after one particular salvo. I was very frightened.

Throughout the night some kind neighbours brought in flasks of tea and it was very welcome.

We were there all through the night until the “all clear” sounded just after 4am. I was very happy to get into my own bed but was unable to sleep after all the events of that unforgettable night.

The next morning my friend and I cycled into town and we saw scenes of devastation. Some buildings were still smoking and there were craters everywhere. Members of the armed forces together with police, civil defence, medics, were maintaining order and reassuring everyone.

I will never forget November 19, 1940.

Brian Lord, Birstall