VE Day: Tess Phillips Shares Family’s ‘Miracle Escape’ From Wartime Bomb
As we approach the 80th anniversary of VE Day signalling eight decades since the end of World War Two in Europe, Tess Phillips shares her memories of a miraculous escape from a German bomb.
When she was just six, her mother heard the ominous drone of approaching German bombers in the sky above their home in Oakwood Street, Port Talbot.
As there was no air raid warning, Tess’s family did not enter their back garden Anderson Shelter – these prefabricated corrugated structures buried under earth would become an iconic symbol of WWII resilience.
Tess said: “A minute later there was a tremendous flash and a bang and bits of the ceiling came down. My father ran in and said – excuse my language – ‘that was b****y close!’. And he was right, it was close – it was in our back garden! If there had been a warning we’d have been in the shelter and would have been killed.”
Tess went on to become a grandmother and she now writes poetry about Port Talbot’s past – including the time she and her family – in the language of the time – nearly “bought it” when that bomb scored a direct hit on their empty Anderson Shelter.
Tess, who has retained a piece of the shrapnel from the explosion as a family memento, recalled that her family home had been hit by one of a string of Luftwaffe bombs, one landing in Tydraw Hill, another near the Grand Hotel (which escaped any major damage) and another hitting nearby railway sidings.
Tess added: “A short time later Lord and Lady Fletcher from Margam Castle came to visit us and me and my brother were given half crowns. Later a lorry arrived and filled in the bomb crater with sand – me and my brother were delighted to have our own beach!”
Neath Port Talbot Mayor Cllr Matthew Crowley interviewed Tess for the military memories collection after meeting her at the Neath Port Talbot Armed Forces Festival earlier this year.
He said: “This was a remarkable escape well told by Tess who has written extensively about her memories of growing up in Port Talbot. It was wonderful to meet her and to hear at first hand how a family from the town escaped death by a whisker.”
Tess is one of a number of people sharing their memories of Neath Port Talbot’s proud military heritage. If, like Tess, you have a story, photograph or information to share, we would love to hear from you – email: armedforces@npt.gov.uk .
Read more stories here: – https://www.npt.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/armed-forces-covenant/npt-military-past-and-present/
