Website Name

The following information was supplied by Norman Darling Black's son George, now aged 72. George is a member of the Abbey Neighbourhood History Group in Lincoln where he has lived for the past 50 years.

On the day Saturday May 3rd 1941 the air raid sounded, my mother and I went to the nearest air raid shelter. My father was an ARP warden and was on duty with the rest of the team members.

At the time of the raid we were living in the caretaker's quarters of the Salvation Army in Prudhoe Street, North Shields.

During this air raid there was a bomb dropped which hit Wilkinson's lemonade factory. The basement of this factory was used as an air raid shelter for both day and night raids. Many families, amongst them friends and relatives went to this shelter. It held over 200 people. When the bomb hit, the factory machinery and everything came down trapping everyone in the shelter.

When the ARP team arrived, also the Police and Fire Brigade they all realised what had happened and started straight away knowing the dangerous situation of all those trapped in the basement. After hours of working together with doctors getting the people out, one false move could have brought any heavy object down including machinery. The ARP team had to work on their backs, sides and fronts inch by inch jacking masonry and machinery up very slowly to make it safe so they could get people out. One story is of a man who was trapped. My father, working with a doctor, cut the man's laces to remove his boots and only then was he able to drag the man free.

Norman Darling Black in first aid uniform

My father was trained as a first-aider and seeing the seriousness of the situation was prepared to work until everyone was out. He did this for many hours in very dangerous conditions until everyone, injured or dead was taken from the basement. For his bravery he was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Two other men were awarded the George Cross. My father's friends and colleagues thought that he deserved further recognition for his actions, so they presented him with a gold watch.

On December 1st 1941, my father, mother and I travelled down to London. On December 2nd at Buckingham Palace, His Majesty King George VI awarded ARP Warden Norman Darling Black with the British Empire Medal. It was a proud and wonderful day for the family.

Whilst we were in London, we stayed at the Salvation Army Hostel, Hoxton Goodwill Centre and were escorted around by Captain Giles who was an Australian.

After the war, my father became a psychiatric nurse at St. Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth. Before he retired he became Deputy Chief Male Nurse.

Following the disaster numerous children were evacuated to safer locations. The day of the evacuation we all met at the school we attended which was Queen Victoria school. Our mums and dads were there to see us off with a parcel of food, big hugs, kisses and a lot of love and tears.

My placement was at Horsley Vicarage near Otterburn with the vicar, his wife and housemaid. There was another boy who stayed there with me. We went to Otternburn school. I'd like to say a big thank you to the people who looked after the boys when we were evacuated.

When my father and mother moved away from North Shields to a village called New York, about three miles away, I was allowed to go back to my parents. I lost contact with the boy who I became friends with when I was evacuated. Does anyone know him? He would be about 70 now and I'd very much like to get in contact with him.

I went to several local schools: Queen Victoria and King Edward's in North Shields, New York Junior School and Shiremoor Secondary Modern (?). Perhaps someone remembers me?. I left North Shields and joined the RAF as a musician, I then became a psychiatric nurse, just as my father had been. I now live in Lincoln.

Whilst writing this and remembering those times, Psalm 23 has been going through my mind..."the Lord is my Shepherd...". God bless.

From the War Cry: 27/12/41

Transcript
At Buckingham Palace On December 2nd H.M. the King pinned the British Empire Medal to the breast of Colour-Sergeant Gordon D. Black of North Shields Corps, and said "I congratulate you."

A bomb struck a public shelter under a factory and many tons of debris and machinery collapsed upon it. Brother Black, serving with a First Aid unit, struggled through a narrow opening, risking his life to find living people buried under the debris.

For four hours he worked at great hazard to extricate a child imprisoned by many tons of masonry. He was advised to rest after this dangerous feat but returned to rescue an imprisoned man. With a 'jack' Brother Black began to prize up the crashed roof, knowing that four high walls and about 40 tons of machinery were suspended insecurely above his head.

A doctor crawled in and handed anesthetic to Brother Black who adminstered it to the imprisoned man. He then cut the vicitm's boots away and pulled the man out of his boots to freedom.

He does not know the names of the two whose lives he saved.

Brother Black has studied First-Aid for eight years. When his duties allow his joy is to carry the Army Colours. While in London for the presentation Brother Black, his wife and son were entertained at the Hoxton Good-will Centre.

Another important piece in the Wilkinson's jigsaw....

Just had a long and fascinating phone conversation with the very charming George Black, son of Norman Darling Black who won the BEM for his bravery in rescuing survivors.

George has promised to write down his memories of his father and his own experiences as a child in war-time North Shields.

George was 8 at the time of the disaster. His father (b.1904) was an ARP warden, worked at the shipyards and was a caretaker for the Salvation Army in Prudhoe Street. The family lived above the Salvation Army Hall. Norman was related to the lifeboat heroine Grace Darling - hence his unusual middle name.

Norman worked for 24 hours amongst the debris searching for survivors and helping the injured to safety. It was a difficult task, working inch by inch for fear of the heavy machinery, glass and other hazards at the site. Norman was a trained first-aider and was able to put this knowledge to good use. After the disaster he received official recognition and the recognition of his colleagues in the ARP who presented him with a watch.

George recalls with pride the trip to Buckingham Palace at Christmas 1941 with his father to receive his medal. He was absent from school (Queen Victoria and later King Edward's) for a few days on the understanding that upon his return he told the other children about the experience.

Norman went on to become a psychiatric nurse in Morpeth. George was evacuated to Otterburn. He later joined the RAF music service, became an engineer and following in his father's footsteps, became a psychiatric nurse. George is now retired and lives in Lincoln.

Out of the blue... a message from Frank Hanson in Lincoln who is in contact with Mr George Black, son of Norman Darling Black whose heroic actions following the raid earned him the British Empire Medal.

Mr Black has lost the photos of his father receiving the medal. Can anyone help out...maybe these were official shots and the masters have been preserved?

We're trying to contact Mr Black to get the full story of his father...watch this space!