PONTEFRACT BOMBING

ADDED 6 JANUARY 2007

May I begin by congratulating you for the publication of such an interesting magazine. I look forward to receiving the Pontefract Digest every month.

After reading the article  The Bombing of Pontefract and the time-bomb which fell in Mayors Walk Avenue, I visited Mr. Bill Brewer in Rosedale, armed with the Digest. We both agreed that the bomb fell in Mr. and Mrs Ponds garden and not either Mr. Penty or Mrs Miller as stated in some published reports.

I remember quite distinctly the evening in question as I lived with my parents at Elstree, now No. 4, a bungalow straight opposite to Mr and Mrs Ponds garden. After the all clear, we went over the road and actually stood by the crater talking to Mr and Mrs Ponds thinking that was the blast which blew our windows out. A warden came down the avenue and shouted, "Come away from there - that bomb hasn't gone off yet!" Needless to say we beat a hasty retreat!

The photographs of the bomb and those brave soldiers were taken by my father, Mr. J. Maud, and given to each man along with contributions from neighbours as a thank you.

I would like to correct one point in Bill's letter of 12th to you, a copy of which he sent to me. The bomb dropped in No. 16 was the home of Mr and Mrs Morrell. Mrs Dalglish was Mrs Morrell's sister and she, together with her young daughter, spent the war years living with Mrs Morrell. There is a photograph of Mrs Morrell in the April edition (issue no. 14) taken at Northgate School in 1954 where she was a teacher. Mrs Dalglish also taught there for a time during her stay.

I hope the Digest will continue to go from strength to strength and will continue to bring back memories of Pontefract long ago.

Pamela Smith

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