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This story has been submitted to the People’s War website by Anne Wareing of the Lancashire Home Guard on behalf of Sylvia Horner and has been added to the site with her permission…

My parents grew up in Bilston Staffs.and many of their relations worked in the local steel works.

They had lived in South Wales since 1935 and at the beginning of the war went back to the Black Country to see members of the family. As they drove along the Birmingham New Road, they were amazed how ‘Dank’s’ the steel works had grown and my father stopped the car and took a photo.

Three weeks later, back at home, a policeman called and the conversation went something like this;

Are you the owner of the car CTX 346?
Yes
And did you drive along the Birmingham New Road on a certain date in November?
Yes
And did you take a photograph on the way?
Yes
Why did you take the photo?
Because our brothers and uncles worked there for many years and we were amazed to see how much it had expanded.
Do you realize that that picture might be of use to the enemy? I must confiscate your film.
My father gave him the developed film, but did not mention he had already printed it in his darkroom in the garage.
Nothing else happened but my parents realized that a passer by had thought it essential to report him. We were all worried about spies at that time.

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