- Contributed by听
- adamholland
- People in story:听
- Mrs A.E Hassall and Fred Hassall
- Location of story:听
- Birmingham
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A2337077
- Contributed on:听
- 24 February 2004
Enemy action, November 1940- April 1941
November 14 first target Coventry, secondary target Birmingham. We lived at upper Francis street Ashtead near Dartmouth street which is within the sound of the bells of St. Martins Church Bullring. From November 14th until mid April 1941 we sustained heavy bombing. On one night the railway station(Duddeston) the sauce factory and several houses were taken out.
As well as the above both rail and bus routes were severely damaged. My father Reg Hassall worked down the coal mine at Hamstead which was located approx 5-6 miles from Ashtead. Due to no bus and rail links to Hamstead Dad had to walk the 6 miles to and from the pit. On return from his hard work as a face worker Dad also had to endure duties as a fire warden with the ARP.
One night just after mid-night Dad was fast asleep having worked extra four hours underground due to roof falls, the sirens sounded, mother attempted to wake Dad, he refused to budge, eventually Mom managed to drag him out of bed and we took shelter under the stairs on the ground floor, as we had no time to get to our neighbours celler(our shelter). Within minutes an incendiary bomb exploded in the very bed that Dad was sleeping in.
Our rented house was severely damaged and we were evacuated to Stechford-Glebe Farm area to my Moms Sister Elizabeth Jenkins and Uncle Charlie. This was late December 1940 and we spent Christmas there.
Although this was a comparative safer area bombs were still falling as we were close to Castle Bromwich-Spitfire manufacturer factory.
Dad eventually managed to obtain a miners house at Hamstead where we moved to in April 1941. The rest of the war was a bit quieter although Dad was twice buried in roof falls down the pit, he sustained a broken back, 2 arms and 2 legs broken as well as numerous lacerations.
Mother lost a Daughter Maureen and a Son Alan during 1941-42 the six the remaining children survive to this day and Mom is 91 on July 22nd 2004.
P.S Incase any member of the TARONI family log on to this a thankyou for the pennies you gave us for the SHRAPNEL
Memories from Agnes Ellen HASSALL
and Frederick HASSALL
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