Jean Green, Doris Kay and Bernard Hannon tell us about the Air Raid near Ramshaw on the 15th August 1940

“The ground and houses shook so violently, the noise was horrific and it was as though express trains were bearing down on us.  We were terrified.”

Jean Green [nee Watson]

“I remember the noise, we all went out doors to have a look and I recall seeing planes chasing down the low line.  Some bombs were dropped in fields around Ramshaw.”

Doris Kay [nee Vickers]

“Once the explosions stopped those gathered in the basement waited nervously to see whether the raid had truly finished. Suddenly the door to the basement at the head of the stairs flew open and Joe Peacock in a somewhat agitated state, began to descend the stairs. Joe was a Special Constable at the time, in addition to his job as a coal miner and appeared in full uniform from the waist up including tin hat but, possibly because he had been in bed due to working night shift that week, he was minus his trousers. He looked down at the sheltering families and they looked up at this wild-eyed half-dressed figure of authority. Joe blurted out:

“There, I hope you b*****s are happy now, you’ve got what you wanted!”

No one to this day was certain of what he meant.”

Bernard Hannon

Bernard’s story is taken from Phil Lees’ book “Little Ireland” and the illustration is by Stewart Lees. 

There will be more on the air raid later.