Tribute to the Land Girls

A sculpture has been unveiled this week at the National Memorial Arboreteum, Alrewas, Staffordshire to commemorate the work of the Women's Land Army. The tribute to the work of the Land Girls is a sculpture by Denise Dutton and features a Land Girl and a Lumber Jill. The Land Army worked the land while the men were away fighting and helped to keep Britain supplied with food and wood. 

The Land Girls are also a popular theme with the re-enactors who wear dungarees, headscarves and wellington boots and of course the green woollen jumpers associated with the Land Army, also often carrying baskets of vegetables, fruit and flowers. The photographs accompanying this article were taken at the "Step back to the 1940's" weekends at the Severn Valley Railway 2014.

 Often at 1940's events there are examples of "work on the farm" and this year Bantock House World War Weekend, Wolverhampton and Rushden Transport Museum Homefront War Weekend, Northamptonshire featured displays, with Blist's Hill Homefront Evening, Shropshire, inviting visitors to "join" the land Army and help with a demonstration of a working shire horse.

Home Front War Weekend at Rushden Transport Museum, Northamptonshire

This was a friendly and lively event with 1940's memorabilia and clothing stalls, displays, and a civilian vehicle display for visitors.  The Blitz Sisters, a popular singing duo, recreated the music of the 1940's, entertaining us all and made this a memorable day!  The Blitz Sisters, who recently appeared at Northampton and Lamport Steam Railway can be contacted by event organisers on Facebook:The BlitzSisters or via their website at WWW.The BlitzSisters.co.uk.

The re-enactors also helped set the scene with a greater than usual naval presence at the event, although there were also lots of people in "40's civies". Photo's from this event are on The Homefront War Weekend at Rushden page.

The fourth service was also present to represent the hazardous work of the Merchant Navy during World War Two including bringing food, fuel and ammunition from America to Britain and transporting troops.   Campaigning by the Merchant Navy Association has brought recognition to the role of the Merchant Navy, and presently they're busy with lobbying activities to achieve official recognition for their veterans to march alongside HM Forces Vets on Rememberance Sunday. You can find out more about the Merchant Navy Association and it's activities at WWW.red-duster.co..uk. or there's more advice and guideance for veterans and their families at www.veterans-uk.info.

WWII, Coventry,and the Blitz

 

 

In the summer of 1940, and until the spring of 1941, Germany began their relentless aerial attacks, targeting British cities, ports and industrial areas. During November a devastating raid levelled the centre of Coventry leaving the city's cathedral in ruins. 

Roy from Northamptonshire, a small boy at the time, was in Coventry visiting relatives.  "My Uncle held me up to the window to see the glow from Coventry while it was being bombed in 1940."  "I had to spend the night in an Anderson shelter, it was the first and only time!

 

Change of Venue for Four Ashes 1940s event 2015

As the 1940s event season is drawing to an end and the re-enactors are getting a well deserved rest, so its likely that they are all looking forward to, or making plans for 2015! So whether you're a re-enactor or a 1940s enthusiast, here's  an early addition for your diary!
Four Ashes are changing their venue in 2015.  The new location is Willenhall RUFC, Essington, Staffordshire. This promise to be an exciting event with plenty of stalls and a hairdresser for the vintage vamps! Also displays, re-enactments, entertainment, military and vintage vehicles, lots happening, and its all  for charity. Almost forgot to add the date, its Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of May!

Welcome to 1940′s Picture Post!

 Welcome to 1940′s Picture Post!

The Picture Post will be publishing your WW2 stories, reporting events and bringing you photo's, interviews in fact anything and everything connected with the 1940's!

Your Stories from Bantock House War Weekend

 

It was a great weekend with lots of visitors, re-enactors, events and exhibitions!  But the main reason I wanted to write this blog was to share your stories. So here goes.
John Harris was a young boy during World War 2.  He lived in Walsall with his grandparents, parents and brother. Whilst he and his brother were busy working in the garden  (their job was to keep the Anderson shelter covered with soil and grass)  they noticed a man at the back of the garden tying ariel wire to a tree.  Because the need for security had been drummed into them he told his mother about this who then told the local ARP warden Mr. Reeve, who was also the local chemist and had a shop at the top of the road.  “I thought he was probably a spy,” said John, ”it turned out that he was a listener, a voluntary interceptor, who was visited by an army despatch rider.
Thought this was a very interesting story because we are only just beginning to find out more about the UK’s network of voluntary interceptors, who listened into german transmissions and sent the information to Bletchley Park, often using despatch riders.
Bantock House War Weekend also featured an exhibition about Geoff Hanley who was a radio technician in World War One and a Voluntary Interceptor from 1940 -1944.  Harry Platt, who told me that Geoff had his own transmitter and mast, was also a member of this group of amateur radio hams. Harry said,”everyone made their own wirelesses called  ’breadboards’.
Another visitor to Bantock House Museum was veteran Geoffrey Ensor, who served on HMS Jason, and was a Leutenant in the RNV Reserve.  Geoffrey was at the Normandy landings, serving on the landing crafts and transferring troops onto the Normandy beaches.
Thanks to everyone who took time to talk to me at what was a very busy and successful event, and apologies to the re-enactors Karen and co and The Scallywags for not yet posting photos. A temporary gliche I hope!

TV, DVD and FILM

 

World War II in Colour is currently being screened at 7.OO pm, Fridays on Channel 5. This series started Friday 12th September, so if you missed the first episode they’re all on You Tube!

War Weekend



It’s World War Weekend at Bantock House Museum, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September and entrance is free.  The theme is communication and includes a profile of radio spy Geoff Hanley who was a voluntary interceptor, and the role of Bantock house as an army communications centre during the Second World War.  There are also displays and re-enactments and an exhibition featuring the work of war correspondent Ernie Pyle, and  some moving letters written by soldiers during the First World War.