Document seven
Bombing in Dartford
Bombing started on a Saturday afternoon. Waves of German planes followed the River Thames on their way to London, dropping fire bombs either side of the river, setting factories, wharves and warehouses alight. The glare of fires was so intense you could read a newspaper in the back garden late at night. This was followed by wave after wave of heavy bombers. Dog fights between enemy planes and Spitfires went on overhead.
One Spitfire was shot down in Hesketh Park. Bombing continued for approximately three months during which time heavy damage was done with great loss of life. On the Sunday morning, Princes Road was full of people fleeing London to get away from the bombing, carrying what few possessions they could salvage. They had no idea where they were going - but just had to get away.
Dartford was blitzed one Friday night, Vickers was the target, but a lot of damage was done round about. One night a stick of bombs straddled Fleet Estate. One did not explode and was found under one of the huts in the army camp at the end of Fleet Avenue. Houses in that area were set alight. Dartford suffered quite severely from both High Explosive and incendiary bombs. Two planes were shot down - one German and one Polish. The Polish pilot was uninjured but the German had foot injuries and was taken to the Southern Hospital.
When bombing stopped, it was followed by 'doodlebugs' which were worse than the bombs. After them came the rockets which were worst of all as there was no warning of their approach. They just fell from the sky and exploded, causing great damage and loss of life.
In 1942 I was transferred from Dartford to London to work. I travelled from Dartford by train at 6.15 am and back home at 8.30 pm - raids permitting. It was a seven day week. One night a week I did Home Guard duty and with luck managed to get a few hours sleep in the Anderson shelter.
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF D. G. GARRETT (DARTFORD)