Before going on duty as a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service I had been paying a visit to a relation in Linskill Terrace, North Shields. On cycling to my station in Percy Main where we had commandeered the St. John Ambulance hut, I heard what I took to be a bomb. The next thing I was blown off my bike (luckily un-hurt) picked myself up and continued on my way to duty.
Mr T.R.Hall in Auxiliary Fire Service uniform c1941
When I arrived at my station it was then I learned the fatal news. I often wonder if I should have stopped to investigate what had happened. When discussing the event afterwards we all agreed we could never see the logic of turning the basement into a shelter bearing in mind the heavy machinery on the floors above...