Memories of Lavender Hill, Battersea
Lived in London close to Clapham Junction - aim for German bombers. About 1945 doodlebugs.
Remembers father being in the back garden yelling at mother to go and grab baby brother (a few months old) - a doodlebug coming over - "This has got our name on it." he said. Dropped the other side of the road taking out a whole block of houses and road beyond - a "square of houses at the back of shops on Battersea Rise, "Lavender Sweep". Prefabs are put there later.
After the war fireworks in the cemented area left after the bombing - the garden of prefab.
Remembers standing at the top of the stairs looking down at the front and rubble around, and green tarpaulin in front of where the bay window was. Damaged by bomb.
Another bomb was dropped at the end of Lavender Sweep. Remembers area was eventually cleared and children were able to use it as a cycle track.
On the other side of Lavender Hill nearby were the Clapham Junction sidings.
The cinema on Lavender Hill was bombed killing a great number of people.
An earlier family memory (has seen telegram evidence) her father had been bombed out of his shop in Battersea Rise - lived above the shop - moved to Lavender Sweep around the corner.
