Express & Star

'He could see the pilot's face': Man recalls seeing German bomber of Pelsall Common

It would have been a terrifying sight to behold.

Published
Sheila Lewis,Lynn Hemming , Charlie and former mayor Marco Longhi

As a teenager walking through Pelsall High Street during the Second World War, a young Charles Watson looked up and saw a German bomber flying overheard.

The aircraft was flying so low that Charles could see the pilot's face. It continued on to bomb a gas works in Brownhills.

That was one of the memories which 92-year-old Mr Watson recalled as part of a public event looking at the history of Pelsall.

It was held at Pelsall Village Centre where Mr Watson was the star of the show.

He was the centre piece of the event where he spoke of his memories living in Pelsall. He also took questions from the audience, while other people also shared memories. Among the crowd was former Walsall mayor Marco Longhi, whose grandfather used to work with Mr Watson.

The event was organised by Friends of Pelsall Commons.

Secretary Lynne Hemming: "In the war time he was walking in Pelsall when a German bomber came overhead. It was so close that when he looked up he could see the pilot's face.

"That bomber went to Brownhills to the gas works."

Other memories that Mr Watson shared included growing up in Pelsall to an "extremely poor family," said ms Hemming.

He was the son of a miner and was born at 13 Station Road, Pelsall, a house which no longer exists.

He used to run errands for his neighbours in exchange for money, and his mother would wash their neighbour's clothes.

He recalled cold Winters when the pipes would be frozen at their home.

For more information on the community group, search for Friends of Pelsall Commons on Facebook.