Memories Of A War Time Evacuee

A Memory of Milton Street.

I spent 3 years at Dumbrell's Farm, Milton Street, Sussex. I was a little Birmingham evacuee (aged 9 years). I went to school at Alfriston, my 'Uncle John' took me fishing in the River Cuckmere and we went shooting wild duck at night. It was an unbelievable experience for me, as I had never been out of Birmingham before. One dark night in 1940, I was alone in 'Pond Cottage'. My 'uncle' had gone with his wife for a drink to the Royal Oak Pub. The German bombers were going over all night to bomb London. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I went to the door and opened it - stood there in the doorway was a German Luftwaffe airman, who had baled out of his crashing Heinkel. He had his hands above his head to surrender. I just ran past him, and ran as fast has I could to the Pub. I screamed out "There's a German at our cottage", everyone ran down the lane, some with shotguns, and he was still there, with his arms in the air, BUT he had turned all the lights on, so that everyone could see he wanted to surrender - the police came and took him away. A policeman said to me "Well done son", I felt very proud, and my uncle John bought me a new bike. I often think about that German airman though, and I hope he got home safe to his family, after the war. I went back in 1956, with my wife Eva, to show her Pond Cottage and Dumbrell's farm, which belonged to my uncle John's father. It was three years of my life I shall NEVER forget. I am now in my 82nd year. Gordon Cooper.