Bulletin Board: Civilians' War Messages

I am writing a personal history of my life as a child during the 2nd world war living in Woolwich for my grandchildren. I would very much like to include photos of Woolwich taken between 1937-1945. Of particular interest would be pictures of a public house called The Exhibition Arms in Prospect Vale which was bombed.Any help or guidance as to where I may obtain such material would be very much appreciated.

I am looking to make contact with people who were evacuated to Rothwell in Northants. I am planning to work together with Rothwell Heritage Centre to set up a community theatre group to dramatise and perform aspects of Rothwell's history, working from first hand accounts, oral histories and the Rothwell Spoken Archive.
Our first project would be the Evacuees' Story performed this autumn to coincide with the national touring exhibition's visit to the Centre. I would be delighted to hear from anyone who remembers that time.

Hello
I am studying popular songs 1939-1945, popular in Britain, which spoke directly about aspects of the experience of war. Obviously Gracie Fields or George Formby is easy to find. If people have examples of less well known songs which showed something about the experience of war I am interested to hear.
John Mullen
université de Paris 12

I'm interested in hearing from people - primarily from London's East End - who were orphaned in the Second World War. This happened to my mother and she apparently benefited from something called the Lord Mayor's Fund. I wondered if her story is typical of what happened to others.

I am doing a projuct for my history class about the Americans in Nottingham during the war - what kind of reception they recieved from the locals, what their impressions of Nottingham were - that kind of thing. Any help would be much appreciated.

Does anyone know anything about armament factories in the Nottingham area? I am trying to trace details of my father who worked in one in 1940. His name was Henry John Taylor and was an armament examiner.

We have four double brick air raid shelters left in our town of Alcester. Unfortunately they are in danger of either falling doen or being knocked down for room. I hope to save at least one double shelter by taking it down and rebuilding it for further use and for the public to see. Any help with suggestions etc for doing this greatly received. Does someone have experience in such a project? Thanks.

Hi,

I am looking for any stories relating to returning evacuees/children remaining in London and their experiences with school closures/re-opening.

What the London children did instead of attending school, memories of schools re-opening etc would be gratefully received.

Thanks!

My mum is 80 next year and I am trying to find an old school friend of hers from Wakefield Girls High school during the war years. Her name was Dorothy Chatfield and she was the daughter of a vicar.Does anyone have any ideas?

My partner and I do reenacting for the period, he does a policeman, I would like to portray a WAPC, of which there were not many during the war. I would be grateful if anyone can provide any information, pictures, etc. I have one or two photographs of the uniform but any other information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I was only ten years old and lived in Southampton, England. I awoke to find USA soldiers with their "ducks," tanks, etc. lining the streets. It was "D" Day!

Eddie was standing beside his "duck" and offered me a piece of gum. I'd never seen candy, gum or fruit! -- He was a big man and seemed to tower above his "duck."

I have never forgotten Eddie and wonder if he is still alive or any of his family members.

I am try to gain more information on an incident which my Mother survived during WW 2 in London.

Here is the story with as much information as I have.

My Mum worked at a small sub-branch of a clothing store and on a FRIDAY morning, (date unknown) she had taken the TRAM to their head office (of George H Leavey) to collect the wages for herself and her one co-worker, who staffed the sub-branch.

The head office she went to was apparently not far from an Arsenal ("Woolwich" ?).....obviously a prime target for bombers

A German air attack using machine guns strafed the area and my Mum and one other lady rushed into the recess of a door surround for shelter. The doorway was the clothing shop BURTON'S OUTFITTERS (spelling?) in ELTHAM. Mum tells me this is now a McDONALD'S fast food place. She cannot remember the street name but says she was through there recently when she visited England

Mum says how she was covered in flying broken glass etc but otherwise totally un-injured. However the other woman, standing right next to her in the overhang of the shop doorway recess was killed instantly with the multiple bulletwounds from the large calibre machineguns fitted to the German aircraft. (Mum indicated the woman's injuries were very severe, that she was "almost cut in half")

My Mum is now very elderly and unable to remember any more specific details

If anyone else has further informtion on this exact incident such as the exact date or street names, or about other perons there that day, then please contact me by email at catherinejemmaATmywayDOTcom

Thanking you

We are researching an educational documentary about women who worked in construction during WW2, particularly those who worked on London's Waterloo Bridge.

We would like to talk to people who might know anything about, or anyone who worked in construction during WW2.

Please contact me, Kirsten MacLeod (Researcher) or Karen Livesey (Director) at: concretehistory@fsmail.net

Look forward to hearing from you!

I'm trying to find images of the Holidays at Home scheme run in 1942 and 1943 - can anyone help? The images would be used in a film which is an education resource for primary school children in Rotherham.

I'm a Ph.D. student at the University of Iowa where I'm working on a dissertation about popular uses of poetry in the 20th Century. When my grandmother died, I inherited her copy of Edna St. Vincent Millay's famous World War II poem "The Murder of Lidice," and I'm now writing a dissertation chapter on that poem. Specifically, I'm looking to study what people wrote in the book itself -- dedications, owner names, etc. I have two copies that people put newspaper articles in as well. If you have a copy of this poem, or remember having a copy, I'd like to hear your story. How did you obtain it? What is written in it? Are there items sandwiched between its pages? I would be grateful for your email correspondence to michael-chasar@uiowa.edu. Thank you in advance!

On 11th August 2005 a memorial was dedicated to the 1206 Home Guard that were killed on active service during WW II. The memorial was also dedicated to 6 men who died on the site of the memorial when a breach block of a 4.7 gun blew. More information about the memorial and our other aims will be posted at www.tpht.org.uk. To contact us please email home.guard@tpht.org.uk or telephone 0870 879 1943

• people involved in building the defence fortifications.
• members of the Home Guard.
• members of the secret Auxiliary Units.
• anyone who has memorabilia, photographs or film relating to any of the above.

If you yourself were involved or know any one who was, it would be fantastic to hear about your memories.

Feel free to email or call at any time.

Lucy Cohen
Researcher
Diverse Production Ltd
Tel: 0207 855 7503
Mobile: 07977 137 826

My father, Frank Walker North, was in the Specials during WW2 in Leeds so the John Ashmore Donation was of particular interest to me. As a small boy I can remember his whistle and truncheon and also a copy of Moriarty's Police Law.

I remember a photograph of his contingent at the Victory parade passing the Town Hall which has long since disappeared. The Leeds newspapers cannot help me, unfortunately. It would be of interest to me to hear from or of any other sources that would allow me to learn more of this period in his life. Perhaps Barbara Dawson can throw some further light for me.