My Family's WW2 Experiences

1. Paternal grandfather - John Alfred Bridgeman, D.F.M.
Based in Farnborough at the start of the Second World War as an RAF Corporal (Leading Aircraftman -LAC) and later Sgt (Flight Sgt). Living in Horsham at the time. Adrian's father and grandmother (John's son and wife) were evacuated back home to Plymouth. John was stationed in the UK until 1940. John's wife (Adrian's father's birth mother) died suddenly. He later remarried Adrian's step-grandmother, Clara Babbington, who served in the WAAF Catering Corps. They married in Aldershot in 1941. Clara was then posted to Cornwall, while John went to Rhodesia and South Africa. He was awarded a D.F.M. in 1922 in Somaliland during previous service. John returned to Ficton in time for VE Day. He was demobbed and went back to being an insurance agent in Plymouth and lived with Clara for the rest of his life.

2. Mother - Enid Philips.
12 years old September 1940, daughter of William George Philips in Plymouth during the war. Photos of her in a bomb shelter with 2 schoolfriends and Aunt Gert. Eventually evacuated from Plymouth. When (Plymouth) Blitz started, Aunt Gert said "We're leaving" and went on army truck with soldiers to Plastedown Camp near Tavistock. Walked to Tavistock and managed to get a lift to Callington, Cornwall, to stay with friends at Durnaford Farm. Should have gone to school at Stoke Dameral but Admiralty took it over. Moved to Devonport High School for girls but was bombed so moved to Poundshouse on shift classes. Then went to Callington Grammar School and then back to Plymouth for a school certificate at Plymouth High School in 8 subjects in 1944.

3. Maternal grandfather - William George Philips.
Was born at Plymouth Docks in 1919. Living in Glasgow in 1935 when his wife died, as inspector of shipwrights and material dresser until 1943 when sent to Sierra Leone as a Shipwright Lieutenant - in case captured, to be treated as an officer. Returned to the UK bringing a crate of bananas - these were green when he left Sierra Leone but the ship was held up in the sound and they went off by the time he returned. Shifted between Glasgow and Plymouth post-war, where he was foreman of the construction of HMS Plymouth.