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In September 1939, when Chamberlain made his heart-breaking announcement that we were once again at war, the people of Arle, no less than anywhere else, were ready to fight. Nay, long before war broke out the country had anticipated such an event and the first conscripts had been called up. Plans went ahead to provide Identity Cards for everyone, sandbags were hastily filled to protect vital buildings, rationing was being planned and blackout material being stockpiled ready for the fatal day.
The people of Arle and Hesters Way were ready. An A.R.P. post was set up and those men too old to serve in the army became ARP Wardens. Some of the younger chaps joined the 'Home Guard’ or Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), whose task it was to guard places of strategic importance and, in case of invasion, to repel the enemy. At first they had no uniform or weapons and used to drill at weekends in the Drill Hall in North Street and parade in Montpellier Gardens. At first people did not take them seriously but once they were 'licked into shape' and had uniforms and guns, people began to respect them.
There was a certain amount of rivalry between the ARP and the Home Guard, and many of the ARP chaps tried to transfer - attracted no doubt by the uniform and the guns. But some people did not take them seriously enough, for the Echo in 1940 quotes two cases in Gloucester where people ignored their challenge and were shot, one fatally.
Of the Arle men who gave up their spare time to be Wardens or Home Guards, we know of Mr Raechell, Mr East and Mr Kearsey, but there may have been others. Other men and women also gave up their spare time to drive ambulances, or give up one or two nights a week to the National Fire Service (NFS).
We know of some who served in the forces. The Fletcher men of Hesters Way were some of the first to serve. Mr M. Fletcher served in the desert in Italy (see Volume 2). His brother, Eric Fletcher, was in the RAF. Fortunately both of them survived the war and returned to live in Arle.
Sadly, another of the men from Arle who was in the RAF was killed over Malta in February 1941. He was Phillip Kearsey, son of Mr and Mrs F. Kearsey of Springbank. The island of Malta was later awarded the George Cross for standing up to constant bombardment by the Germans.
Another son, Albert W. Kearsey, Pilot Officer, survived the war and returned to Cheltenham.
Albert Leslie Iles, Pte. RAOC, who died on 16th April 1945, aged 43 was the son of Albert and Bertha Iles of Cheltenham. The Iles family lived for a time in The Old School House, Arle.
Christopher Henry Betteridge, Pte. 2nd Bn Argylle and Sutherland Highlanders died on 7th January 1942, aged 27. He was son of Christopher and Elizabeth Betteridge of Cheltenham, grandson of Mark and Alice of Arle. He was buried at Taiping War Cemetery in Malaysia.

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