大象传媒

This story has been submitted on behalf of the author by a People's War volunteer story gatherer. The author has been made aware of the site's House Rules.

The story has been submitted in association with the Maiden Bradley History Society.

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I was born five months before the Second World War began so the early years have little meaning for me. However the memories that I do have are as vivid now as they have always been.

I was living with my mother, sister and grand parents at 63 White Street, along the end of the street next to the wood. My father was in the army and serving abroad.

Like most other people of that era I remember going to school, taking my gas mask with me and having to try it on to ensure it fitted and that we all knew how to use them. Likewise most will recall how the windows had tape stuck over then in case an explosion would shatter them. The infamous ration books will always remain a memory as will the dried egg and dried milk that became part of our diet.

So, what do I remember? Whilst the war was being fought in various parts of the world, Longleat and Horningsham played its part in the war effort.

Longleat House became the home of the Royal Girls School, Bath. Two of its teachers, Miss Andrews and Miss Ainsworth lived next door at 61 White Street.

Out in the park, where part of the safari park is now situated, was a nissen hut camp which housed prisoners of war before the American army took over. It was they who were in residence when victory was declared. How they celebrated!! Dancing on the common to the small hours. Afler the war the Royal Engineers were based there before the camp was demolished.

In the woods between Heavens Gate and Park Gate, the RAF had a stores depot using the woods as a camoflage. Some of the sheds are still there to-day now used as stores and pickling yard. I well remember seeing the men marching down the Warminster Road to their mess hut which was just inside Park Gate.

Out in the park across from acre gate the Home Guard had a 25 yard shooting range. The six foot targets were kept in our garden shed, as my uncle Harry Rowe was a member of that platoon, and probably arranged for them to be store~there. Out side the house on the edge of the wood large concrete boulders were placed as tank traps. They are still in position to-day but not so ready visible as the area is now over grown As children we played on them jumping from boulder to boulder.
Across the road a deep trench was dug as an additional defence against tanks or other military vehicles. The trench went from White Street across to Lodge Road. It was fenced off for safety reason no doubt.

Being out in the countryside Horningsham had its share of evacuees. Some became good playmates and fitted in to the community, but of course were young and away from their families. Albert Honey lived with Frank and Ethel Garrett in White Street. We spent hours playing in the woods with him and other local kids. Terry Brady was another who lived with Harry Marsh and his wife in the house at the junction of Wbite Street and Dairy Lane. The Gamble family came to live at No 59 White Street which was then the middle house of three. They were completely lost in the country and I
remember them coming to our house to listen to the news on our radio when victory was declared. How they celebrated too!! In the knowledge that they would soon be going home. Many families in the village were hosts for them but I can鈥檛 remember the names of them. A few years ago at the village reunion I met up again with Albert Honey. We had lots to talk about as one can imagine, after 50 years or more. Its good to know that he still keeps in touch with the village, as may some of the others.

In the afternoons, before we started school my mother would take us for a walk in the woods to meet my grand father who worked with his gang keeping the woods in good order. We often sat on the seats at Heavens Gate and could watch the trains going to and fro, or at least the smoke and the steam from the engines as they travelled along the railway track between Frome and the West of England.

I can remember my grand father having to put up the shutters outside the windows at night to prevent the light from being seen. The only light we had was an oil lamp and the glow of the fire. We did not have electricity or running water. The water had to be drawn from the well in the garden for our daily use. It had to be boiled before we could drink it. The radio that we had was operated by battery accumulator which had to be change every fortnight. I can still smell the acid when Mr Cobb brought them to the house.

One dark winters evening grand father saw a torch light coming through the garden towards the house. It was a search party looking for an air craft which had crashed near Bath.

After victory was declared the village had its victory celebrations as did most other places. I remember Alec Long who lived at Dairy Farm had a large blue flag hanging out of one of his bedroom windows with white writing on it 鈥淕od save the King鈥�

Naturally many memories are personal like Fritz the German prisoner of war who had a black dog. When he was out walking with the dog he used to frighten me to death.

Then there were the American soldiers who would stop and talk about their families and show you the photographs.

My family moved away from Horningsham in 1950, but I have many wonderful memories of the place and of my childhood days. I always enjoy returning to the village. It never changes, only the people change.

I hope these memories will be useful to who ever reads them and if they would like to know more then please feel free to contact me.

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