大象传媒

The following story has been added to the site by 大象传媒 Radio Cornwall CSV volunteer Olivia Davey on behalf of the author Christine Gendall, who understands the sites terms and conditions.

My father Raymond Harvey, was the local carpenter, cabinet maker, wheelwright undertaker and decorator in the parish of St. Levan. In 1940 he suffered a life threatening illness when he had peritonitis following ruptured appendix. This, along with being in a reserve occupation meant that he was not called up into the armed forces. He became a Sergeant in the Home Guard.

Local wheelwrights were exempt from call-up because their skills were required to make carts which were once again being used on the local farms as the recently introduced tractors and other machines were required for war service. Also fuel was in short supply.

My father also held the licence from the District Council to carry out war damage repairs in the West Penwith parishes.

I have copied from his account book of the time, some examples of the work (and prices) carried out which might be of interest.

1940 (Mr B Rowe, Trebehor Farm)
Sept 8th Making and fixing blackouts 2 men 8 陆 hrs 14s.2d
Blackout paper and cloth 拢1.2s.0d

Total 拢1.16s.2d

1940 May
Repairs to bomb damage (Mr J Williams, Roskestal Farm)
I man replacing pane of glass in window I hr. 1s.7.d
Glass 8 陆鈥� x 7 陆鈥� & putty 10d
Total 2s.5d

Re-glazing roof of porch & 2 panes inside 3 hrs 4s.9d
10 ft glass & putty 7s.8d

Total 12s.5d

1943 June
To making new cart on rubber wheels, Butt, shafts axle case & painting same.. 拢18.12s.6d
Blacksmiths account 拢9.2s.6d

Total 拢27.15s.0d

Estimate for new posts for evacuees (Sunday School Rooms)

2 Netball posts 9 foot high 拢1.3s.4d
2 iron bands 7s.0d
1lb nails (6d) 1 dozen screws (3d) 4 bolts (3d) 1s.0d
Labour for making and delivering same 10s.0d
Total 拢2.1s.4d

The cable and wireless station was located at Porthcurno, in St. Levan parish, & this was very important to the country for vital communications during the war. In 1940 it was decided to build an underground tunnel to house the vital equipment. Local mines were used to blast the tunnel with skilled gangers & foreman brought in from outside the area.

15,000 tons of rock was excavated & as an escape route 119 granite steps were cut. My father was employed to carry out some of the carpentry work. In all 225 men were labouring on the site & the work commenced with cleaning then area in June 1940 & completed in May 1941.
Soldiers, along with the Home Guard, were used to guard this important installation.

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