A man whose father died in bombing raids over Norwich has told of his pride that the man who inspired him to join the police had been remembered as part of a poignant memorial in the city.
Sam Bussey, a former sergeant with Norwich City Police, was killed when a stick of high explosive bombs were dropped on Oak Street during a raid on April 28 1942.
The 33-year-old, who had transferred from Norwich City Police to the National Fire Service when it was set up during the war, had been dispatched from Bethel Street Fire Station with his colleague Len Scrivens, a former PC.
The pair, who first arrived in Sussex Street in an Austin Fire Engine, immediately leapt into action with Mr Scrivens going from cottage to cottage clearing incendiary bombs which had crashed through roofs and Mr Bussey releasing horses from stables which had caught fire in Oak Street.
Suddenly a stick of high explosive bombs came down all around them with Mr Bussey, who was last seen standing on the corner of Oak Street and Sussex Street, being tragically killed in the blast.
Now, more than 75 years on Mr Bussey is one of four former Norwich officers killed during Second World War raids over the city whose lives have been commemorated during a special service at Bethel Street Police Station.
A plaque bearing the names of Mr Bussey, Arthur Pennymore, Arthur Wilby and George Smith have been unveiled following a ceremony at the police station which is just yards from where Mr Bussey's sons, Eric, then seven, and Alan, then six, had hid in an underground shelter during the raid which killed their father.
Eric, now 81, had lived in one of the flats at the rear of the fire station with his dad, mother Nora and brother Alan and remembers the events of that night.
He said: 'On the day of the bombing all the families in the fire station hid in a shelter overnight.
'I can remember the bombing that had taken place.
'I remember looking out of the window of the fire station to see all the firemen coming back, but my father didn't.'
Eric said the tragic death of his father inspired him to join the Norwich City Police and 'carry on the job that he had started'.
Speaking at the ceremony at Bethel Street Police Station, Eric, who lives to the north of the city, said: 'I served for 32 years in his memory and I would like to think I finished what he started.'
Eric, a father of one who retired from the police in 1987, said he was pleased his father had been remembered.
He said: 'It's recognising my father from 1942. I'm just pleased that he's been able to be recognised.
'I thought it was out of the blue - 75 years is a long time but it was a very nice presentation and everyone was very pleased with what took place.'
Other family members of the men whose names appeared on the plaque at Bethel Street also attended the event which took place at the same time as one in Great Yarmouth which was also remembering police officers, police war reserve officers and special constabulary reserve officers who died.
Among them were Ronald Smith, 82, and Kenneth Smith, 88, the sons of George Smith, a special constable who was 43 when he was killed on September 5 1942 when a single raider dropped a number of high-explosive bombs on either side of Magdalen Street.
Ronald, who was just six at the time, said he was 'very surprised' to have found out that his father was to be remembered but also 'very honoured'.
Reverend Christopher Wood, police chaplain, who led the Norwich service, said: 'We are here today to remember those officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the course of their duties during World War Two.'
During the service Sergeant Neil Williams gave a talk about the officers whose lives were lost before Inspector Nick Paling laid a poppy wreath under the plaque in remembrance to the officers who also included:
• Arthur Pennymore, 55, of Bracondale, who was a Norwich City police officer who died on December 2 1940 when a stick of bombs were dropped on three cottages and blew out the windows of a pub. He was hit by shell splinters from the bombs.
• Arthur Wilby, 35, a constable in the Police War Reserve, died on June 27 1942 at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital after being injured when a bomb fell near St Mark's Church during a raid which lasted just an hour. His wife Kate also died on the same day.
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