June 1941 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

June, 1941

June, 1941

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

thai the path was in a mess and still thinking the bomb was probably quite G long way off and I'd got a backwash of debris, I went on to the shelter. While I was lying prone the bugle had sounded another "take cover". However, we very soon had another local "all clear" and I went in to change my collar and tie which were a bit muddy as it had been raining nearly all day. Fortunately I was rolling on the ground in a raincoat so my suit was spotless. I changed my shoes and stockings-I'd made a tiny hole in the kne·e of o r. e of them-and I was just settling down to hear the 9 o'clock news when there was a thump on the door and the Captain and the Commander were ask- ing who was the· Wren near the gate. I told them I was and when I described vvhere I was lying they said it was impossible. However, I knew I was right. They seemed frightfully anxious to know if I was allright and of course I was a nd they went away. Later, the Commander returned io ask if I'd like the Doctor to give me an opiate . I refused ; it all seemed a lot of fuss. Next morning after breakfas t I went up to see the place and to my utter amazement I found I had been lying less than two yards from the edge of the crater. Another three steps and I should have been blown to bits. In a most miraculous way all the rocks and mud and stuff had been flung out in a neat semi-circle on the oppos ite side of the hole and only the few things I felt came out on my side. I could scarcely believe it. If I'd known, I'd probably have thrown a fit. The Doctor insisted on coming to see me and for two days I was watched anxiously for reactions but I knew there couldn't be any because it was all so quick that I didn't have time to feel anything at all. On the Thursday morning the Commander and first Lieutenant Commander appeared just before lunch with an enormous bouquet of flowers and a very comic drawing and we were just embarking on a glass of sherry when the sirens went and we had a hundred Nazis overhead and saw a marvellous dog-fight. I had s treams of visitors all day to congratulate me on my escCipe. I felt as though I'd done something rather clever by mistake and no one minds at all that I could be caught out on two points; (a) not taking cover on a siren o.nd (b) breaki~g my leave- because all the wretched instruments here record- ed the bomb a t 8.20 p.m. (We would like to thank Miss S. M. Hughes of Southport for making this let ter available to us for publication).

Extracts from a letter from Miss Samuel ....

H.M.S. "Osprey"

Portland, Dorset I read in the Sunday Express a few weeks ago a short article headed "Don 't be a Bomb Bore". It be-gan with a def inition of a bore as somebody who will keep telling you all about themselves when all the time you are wanting to tell them about yourself! It went on to say that you would never find a nyone who wanted to hear about your bomb and your feelings, but heaps of people will want to tell you about their bomb and their feelings! Howeve r, in spite of this I insist on telling you about my bomb and it's a long story which comes under the title of "Stranger than fiction" , so take o deep breath ! On Wednesday afternoon I went down to Portland Castle-about twenty minutes walk through the Dockyard-and spent the late afternoon with the Chief Officer . She had invited me to dinner as she had a present of a hare . We dined early because I have to be back on board by 8 p.m. and just as I was cwmming in the last mouthful of jugged hare a terrific barrage began and the sky was dancing wi th searchlights and flashes from guns . I kept looking anxiously at the clock and a ft er about ten minutes there was a lull and I started briskly for home. In a few moments the fi reworks began again and when they seemed directly ove-rhead I crouched down against a wall-! was wearing my tin hat and carrying my tricorne . When I got to the Dockyard Gate I wondered whether I should shelter for c little while-there hadn't been any warning-but a soldier was going on through and we walked along together chatt ing -of this and that and looking ai the flashes. Halfway along, the siren began and he went to his post close by, so I hurried on up the "Osprey" hill as all seemed quie-t when the wail died dow n. When I was nearly to the top I heard the bugle in the "Osprey" blow the "carry on" which means that it's safe to move about, so I happily panted up the rest of the hill and called out to be let in at the gate. The Petty Officer at the gate told me I'd be·tter make for the shelter as just then we heard some- thing overhead, so I set off down a cement path. It was fairly moonlight and I was walking slowly and thinking to myself ' 'I've never been this way before and I wonde r if I shall be able to find the shelter" when the 'plane overhead sounded as if though it were diving low and then I thought it was coming down and then my helmet went off and I thought quickly " lie down flat" and I d id and managed to wriggle a b it and get my helmet and put it ·on. I didn' t consciously hear a crash but I knew I was waiting for things to fall on me· and sure enough a spatter of mud and clay and two small rocks bumped down and rolled off and then a most disgusting smell thrust itself e n my notice . And then I thought, "Well-I'd done everything I've been told to do be·fore a bomb drops and it's worked- but nobody has ever told me how long to go on doing it". Then anothe-r bomb dropped in the sea a little way cff so I got up and I couldn't go on any further down the path because the cement was in an awful mess- It was a little bit cracked the other side of me too, bu t not badly, so I skipped over that and went back to the gate and told the· Petty Officer 18

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E. EXLEY, Ill.B.

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