boyfromfishponds

So I came across Eugene Byrne's search for Bristol Myths (http://eugenebyrne.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/bristol-urban-myths) the other day.

The one that sprang into my head was the one about that the Cossham Lad in the war.

In the second world war German planes had to fly over Kingswood on the way to the docks in town. Seeing these planes flying over a local lad was worried that they were going to bomb Kingswood. So he climbed to the top of Cossham Tower with a torch and started to send morse code messages upto the German bombers. He sent a message saying ''Do not bomb here. This is Cossham Hospital built by Handel Cossham who was a German.''

This young man was spotted by a LDV (Local Defence Volunteer). Who promptly dragged him down from the tower to take him to the local police station. Then he was put through the courts, where he was convicted of treason and sentenced to life in prison. Which is where he eventually died.

I spoke to my ma about this and she had heard of a different story. The lad wasn't a misguided local who in his own way thouht he was protecting his area. But a full blown, shit your pants Nazi trying to support the German bombers.

So one could be true and the other could propaganda or they could both be aload of bollocks that have some how worked there way into local legend. But I suppose that the great thing about urban legends.

Any one else think of any good ones?