The Exeter Blitz

It was the night of May 3-4, 1942, and the Lockwoods were scattered all over Exeter. Colin's mother was at the dress shop where she worked. Mary and her boyfriend Lars were at the cinema. June and Mr. Lockwood were at home. And Colin was in the tower of the city's historic cathedral. Wherever they were, they could hear the sirens start, and they knew what that meant . . .

But this air raid was like no bombing before. Bombs fell like rain, bursting apart houses and shops and streets, followed by incendiary shells. Soon the city was engulfed by a fire storm, and the low-flying planes machine-gunned rescue workers and everyone else. Only the ancient cathedral went relatively unscathed.

As the morning dawned, bringing the all-clear, the Lockwoods emerged, each from the place where he had taken shelter, and looked about, checking to see who had survived. Their house was in ruins, their lives had been changed, but as each face reappeared, they knew that they had much to be thankful for.

David Rees here re-creates the feelings and experiences of a family living through a war. WINNER OF THE 1978 BRITISH CARNEGIE MEDAL.