THE RADIO SPIES AND THE WAR OF THE WIRELESS - WWII

Hidden away in lowly lit rooms, wearing headphones and with heads bowed, the radio spies silently worked. At the same time, the people of the Home Front unaware of this clandestine activity were also tuning in to their wireless sets. Motivated by inspiring and patriotic speeches from their wartime leaders they were busy with war work and defending the Home Front.

The radio interceptors were chosen for their agile minds, ability to work at speed, and also for the stamina required to work exhaustingly long shifts. At home and abroad the radio spies listened to the German transmissions, writing down morse code.

These coded transmissions, sent by the Germans, encrypted by Enigma machines, and received by the listening stations were sent to Bletchley Park. Once decoded they gave valuable information about bombing targets and invasion plans. Some Y stations, or Wireless Intercept stations, using direction finding, identified the position of German U boats. Voluntary Interceptors were also used. Radio hams, often with their own receivers, were secretly working from their own homes, and no one knew, not even their families! The work of the Y stations and Voluntary Interceptors was kept top secret.

In France, British planes dropped secret agents and spy suitcase radios to assist the work of the French Resistance.  Messages or instructions were relayed to the Resistance via news broadcasts.

In 1980, the truth about the work of Bletchley Park was revealed, although the contribution made by the radio interceptors is still to be fully acknowledged. Churchill's network or web of radio spies helped to shorten the war and save thousands of lives.

Source
Manpower - Ministry of Information -  published 1944 Alabaster Passmore and Sons, Ltd.
The Secret Life of Bletchley Park Sinclair McKay
The Secret Listeners Sinclair McKay

THE HEALING HERBS OF WORLD WAR II

During World War Two the nation's food and medicine cupboard was nearly empty! Action was needed. So a series of measures was introduced by Churchill's government to deal with this challenge.

The Land Girls or the Women's Land Army rose to the challenge. This was hard physical work, usually done by men who were now required to fight for their country. The Land Girls drove tractors, ploughed fields, planted root crops, threshing, harvesting and tending to livestock. They were required to take on any farm work that was needed to increase food production for the Homefront. Encouraged by the government, the nation followed suit using allotments, parks, gardens, in fact every available space in cities and countryside to grow food. Home grown fruit and vegetables with large amounts of Vitamin C such as blackcurrants , gooseberries, turnips and cabbage was encouraged.  Victory gardens were everywhere!

In 1941, The Ministry of Health, together with the Vegetable Drug Committee at Kew Gardens, produced guidelines about what herbs to collect and instructions about growing and harvesting. This was a return to medicinal herbalism! The Ministry of Supply also issued monthly information bulletins about the progress of collection and the quantity available in various areas, also sharing tips and giving advice. Herbs were to be used to prevent and treat infection and also to treat illness.  Rosehips for example were a rich source of vitamin C and Wild Thyme was an antiseptic. Garlic, known as "Russian Penicillin" was widely used in WWII, and a naturally fermented penicillin, discovered in a laboratory in Illinois, USA, was tested for military use in 1943.

During WWI and WWII, herbs were use to treat soldiers wounded in battle. "Digging for Victory" and "Growing your Own" wasn't just a patriotic duty, it was a matter of survival. The war weary British people rolled up their sleeves and provided the resources that were needed! Food and Medicine.

Source

The Nation's Larder - Lectures at the Royal Instution of Great Britain,  April,May,June published 1940.
herbalacademyofne.com (Herbal Academy of New England.)
Women At War 1939 - 1945 The Home Front  Carol Harris
www.lib.niu.edu/aboutipo ( Illinois Periodicals Online Project - Northern Illinois University Libraries)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT - RATIONING AND THE HOMEFRONT

Food was an issue in WWII! Merchant ships from America laden with food and supplies were being attacked by German U boats, and the Royal Navy protecting these convoys was suffering severe losses. Occupied Europe could not provide the imports we needed! Food was in short supply, and rationing had to be introduced!

In 1940, British experts from the world of food science gathered to share their thoughts and expertise. In a series of lectures, later published as "a book of national importance", Lord Woolton, Minister for Food assessed their findings.  They all agreed on the importance of protective foods - milk, cheese, wholemeal bread or grains, vegetables and potatoes and also the urgent need for increasing the nation's food production. A healthy workforce and fighting force was essential to the defence of our island nation!

In wartime Britain rations for one adult, for one week included,

• 4 oz bacon or ham
• 2 oz butter
• 2oz cheese
• 3 pints of milk, sometimes 2 pints (skimmed or dried milk was available each month)
• 8oz sugar
• 1 shell egg
• 2oz tea
• 2oz margarine and 2oz cooking fat
• A monthly points system also allowed for a tin of fish or meat or 2lb dried fruit.

Many housewives also involved with war work, now had to provide nutritious meals from rations, at least from the rations that were available, and keep their families well fed.
Britain responded to these challenges. Home Economists gave demonstrations in markets and large shops to show hard pressed housewives and mothers how to provide nourishing meals for their families. Canteens and restaurants were created in the factories, for workers, to ensure a healthy diet was available.

 

 The Women's Voluntary Service provided food for bomb victims, and in some air raid shelters provided hot drinks and snacks. The Women's Institute set to work preserving

and canning large quantities of fruit and making jam for distribution.  The Women's Land Army took on men's work on the farms to ensure food production continued, and every available space, parks, gardens or flowerbeds were used for growing food. Winston Churchill succeeded in keeping morale high with his "Dig for Victory" and "Grow your Own" campaign, but it was also the determination of the British people that ensured that our island nation avoided being starved into submission!

Source
The Nation's Larder and the Housewife's Part therein  - A Set of Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, in April, May, June 1940. Published by G Bell and Sons, Ltd, 1940.*
Manpower - The Story Of Britain's Mobilisation For War Ministry of Labour and National Service by the Ministry of Information 1944
We'll Eat Again by Marguerite Patten In Association With The Imperial War Museum

*from Mike's Militaria, 3, Worcester Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV2 4LD, 07951 262629, Evenings 01922 479557. (Military items bought and sold.)

STEPPING BACK IN TIME TO WWII AND RAF DESBOROUGH, RAF HARRINGTON AND THE USAAF.

A disused airfield in Desborough, Kettering, Northamptonshire, now silent and empty was once during WWII, the scene of immense activity. We can imagine the roar of the engines, young RAF pilots running to their planes and suddenly the sky filled with the sight of Wellington bombers off on a mission.

Based at RAF Desborough, No 84 Operational Training Unit at RAF Desborough, consisted of night bomber crews flying Vickers Wellington Bombers.  This airfield was also a training base for Miles Martinets and Dc3 Dakotas.

Nearby, Just  5 miles west of Kettering and  planned as a satellite at RAF Desborough was RAF Harrington, an operational training unit for the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force. Known as the Carpetbaggers and using B-24 Liberators, the 801st Bomb Group flew agents and supplies to the resistance groups in Southern France.

Weather reports from Bletchley Park and Photographic Aerial  Intelligence enabled these covert operations to capitalize upon and strengthen the French Resistance. Also, the SOE, Special Operations Executive, helped to co-ordinate the activities of the French Resistance.

Today, Desborough remembers and commemorates WWII with its 1940s events! Desborough village "steps back to the 1940s" as it is transformed with bunting, stalls and costumed re-enactors. The shops sell vintage goodies, there is a wartime café with"rations" and lively demonstrations of 40s dancing - anyone can join in! A wartime vehicle parade winds it's way through the village and there's lots more for visitors to see. Their 2014 event was a sunny, happy and friendly occasion and a lovely tribute to their wartime history and heroes.
      Www.1940spicturepost.blogspot..com
Source
Britains Secret War 1939-1945 Michael Smith
wikipedia.org/wiki/list-of-operational-training-units
Wikipedia.org/wiki/RafHarrington

RED HOUSE GLASS CONE MUSEUM, THE TITANIC AND WWII

What's the connection between the Titanic, Radar and a glassmaking factory?  The answer is The Red House Cone Glass Museum, home to glassmaking since the eighteenth century, and also a popular venue for 1940s events. With live music and entertainment, wartime re-enactors, exhibitions, and of course demonstrations of glass making, and lots of other activities and displays, this event attracts plenty of visitors!

Stourbridge has a rich industrial history,  including generations of craftsmen, skilled in glassmaking who had, by 1827, established the "crystal mile" with Red House Glass Cone Factory at the centre of this industry. Crystal glassware crafted here was supplied to the Titanic for her maiden voyage.

In 1936 Winston Churchill was again warning parliament of the growing threat from Germany and emphasizing the need for the design and manufacture of all supplies needed by the Air Force, the Army and the Navy.

In 1936 production ended at the Red House Glass Cone, although all the work was moved to the White House Glass Works. It was there, that the skilled craftsmen from Red House Glass Cone continued to use their expertise, but this time for war work. They made landing lights for aircraft, cathode ray tubes, electronic vacuum tubes used for radar and other specialized types of glass for electronic and chemical equipment needed during WWII.


Source
www.gracesguide.co.uk/stuartandsons
www.dudley.gov.uk/see-and-do/museums/red-house-glass-cone
www.churchill-society-london.org.uk (speech 12th November 1936)

RE-ENACTORS REQUIRED FOR THE JACKFIELD WORLD WAR II WEEKEND EVENT!

Re-enactors are required for The Jackfield World War II Weekend on May 23rd and 24th May 2015.  The event will be held at The Boat Inn, Jackfield, Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7LS, and daytime entry is free. Tickets are available for their Saturday evening 1940s Dance and supper.

Military and civilian vehicles and entertainers are also needed alongside WWII re-enactors to re-create the Homefront and wartime Europe!

You can contact the organisers on 07830 434 826 and there's more information about this event at Rods 1940s events calendar at www.40s-events.co.uk.

CRICH TRAMWAY MUSEUM 1940s EVENT 2014 AND THE RED LION.

It's getting closer to the start of the 1940's event season and the re-enactors are probably planning which events to attend! One of the earliest in the calendar is Crich Tramway Easter 1940s Weekend.  The World War Two re-enactors and carefully restored trams made their 2014 event very enjoyable! There was also lots of 1940s entertainment including George Formby, a vintage and military vehicle parade, visits and speeches from the nation's wartime leaders, an exhibition hall and of course rides on the trams.

Pictured above are WWII re-enactors enjoying a drink and lunch at the Red Lion Hotel in Crich Village. When I took this photo I didn't know what an interesting story there was about the Red Lion.  Originally situated in Stoke-On-Trent,  it was the local pub for the tram crews of the Potteries Traction Tramway Company who also gathered there to receive their weekly wages. Due to be demolished it was transported brick by brick, with individual bricks being carefully restored, to its new home in Crich Village.
An equisite example of Victorian/Edwardian architecture, it's nice to know that this building has been preserved!

Source www.dailykos.com/story