15th August 1940

The Middle Wallop bombing raid of 14th August 1940.

The day after, as recalled by 809159 LAC Ernie Barker

Ray Dunn and I had just finished our washing and shaving. We were in a barrack block, first floor, very sumptuous, we even had sheets in those days. I looked out of the window and noticed 3 army chaps, one digging furiously with a pick, another one was shovelling all the soil away, and the third chap was just standing there. I called over to Ray to come and have a look and we decided that the three blokes were digging some sort of drain, perhaps to enhance our environment, perhaps not. However I remember both Ray and I shouting at them such phrases as "up your pipe" "get lost" and other popular euphemisms of the day. The soldier who we dubbed as the quiet one, because he didn't appear to be doing any work, came striding towards us and stopped just below our window, and it was only then that we noticed his rank on his shoulder tabs…a major! "Oh hell, this is it" I thought, and before I could think anymore the major screamed at us, using such words that I had never heard before (but I did discover later on in life that I too could make myself better understood by using these words). From his verbal tirade of words and phrases I could just about make out that he was ordering us to come down to him immediately - if not before.

This we did of course, and for the next ten minutes he lectured us on the meaning of tannoy messages broadcast all over the station, including dispersal points, for all personnel. I muttered meekly that I had heard the tannoy mentioning something about evacuating all barrack blocks for that afternoon, but I thought "well, that didn't really mean me", how stupid we were at eighteen years old!

After more fuming on the major's part , he told us to follow him to the spot where the other two army blokes were still digging and shovelling. I looked down into the pit they were digging, and my first thought was that they were digging a grave, but then I saw IT, an unexploded bomb! The major told his men to come out of the pit for a rest, and somehow or other I thought this is going to be painful. I thought about doing a hasty retreat and run as fast as possible, but then I said to myself "You coward Ernie, what wouyld Mr Churchill say!" I was brought back to reality by the piercing voice of of the major, and looking me straight in the eye he ordered me to pick up a pick, get down in the trench, and start digging underneath the bomb. I nearly died of fright, but I did jump into the pit (or was I pushed!) The pit was quite small, about 4 feet down and a couple of feet across. The bomb was lying at an angle of about 45 degrees and it was no easy task to get the pick directly underneath it without touching the damn thing. Well, I picked gingerly, about an inch at a time, and the major, being no fool, noticed that I was hardly working flat out. He tried to instill into me that there was a very strong possibility that the bomb could explode any second, indeed if I noticed a hissing noise then that would be the sign that an explosion was imminent, there would not even be time for all my past life to pass before me.

The bomb was a 250lb one, and although the major repeated time and time again that it was a delayed action type, I chose to repeat to myself a million times that he was lying and that it really was just a dud bomb. How I could think on those lines I will never know because at that time I knew very little about German bombs, in fact I knew absolutely nothing! However, after doing my stint in the pit, the major ordered me out and it was then that I thought I heard the damn thing hissing. Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to come out because the major threw himself into the pit taking me with him. He put his arm underneath the bomb and told everybody to be absolutely still. I cannot describe my feelings at the time, I had already sweated profusely, but now sweat poured out of me, my legs started to dither and I could hardly breathe. This was it I thought, at least it will be all over rather quickly, wouldn't feel a thing. The quietness period ordered by the major lasted for hours, or so it seemed, but in fact it only lasted for about 30 seconds. He jumped out of the pit, ordered me out, and then sent Ray in to do more digging. He was eventually ordered out, more unkind words from the major and we were dismissed. Ray and I casually (ran!) back to the barrack block, but before entering we agreed that perhaps it would not be the correct thing to do, so we beat a hasty retreat over to dispersal.

Nothing was reported about this incident, at least I don't think it was. Ray and I both agreed that we had got off lightly. We were both very stupid of course, and if any of those 3 army bomb disposal men are hopefully alive today then my sincere apologies go to you, and my admiration.

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