大象传媒

Reflections of a Mid-Gloucestershire Schoolboy

On Sunday September 3rd 1939, the day that Britain declared war on Nazi Germany; I was three years and nine months old. At the time I was having on-going surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. I can vaguely recall staff expressing the term that, 鈥淲ar had broken out鈥�, albeit at that time it meant nothing to me. Because of the war, further surgery was suspended, as it turned out until 1949. All available medics and hospital beds were to be required for the more urgent cases, and of course the war wounded 鈥� both military and civilian.

My maternal grandfather, Albert Fear, of Thornbury, had a cousin, Ernest Dennison Fear who, like all of the family had descended from Chew Magna in Somerset. Living in Kansas City, USA wealthy businessman Ernest had previously visited Britain in 1938 taken much cine film of the area of his boyhood days, which he had left behind 50 years earlier. His interest in films prompted him to commission the old established firm of H W Dunscombe Ltd of St Augustine鈥檚 Parade, Bristol, to make a colour movie film of the Bristol and Bath blitz. The object being to illustrate to Americans back home how the people of both cities were 鈥榯aking it鈥�. It is in fact the only colour film of these two cities taken in the blitz with clips sometimes shown today on television. I am told that the Imperial War Museum in London has a copy as has the Bristol Record Office 鈥� albeit now transferred onto video. Although being very young at the time, I look back with pride at having met Ernest Dennison Fear.

During the war I lived with my parents firstly at Uley, and then near Painswick along Wickstree, which was known as the 鈥極ld Painswick Road鈥� leading to Stroud. Whilst at Uley I well remember the drone of enemy aircraft and the familiar noise of their unsynchronised engines. On nights when there was a raid on Bristol my parents would wrap me in blankets to go outside into the night air to view the distant glow in the sky cause by the fires raging as the city was bombed. One could also see the criss-crossing of the searchlight beams as the defenders frantically searched for the German raiders. Sadly, the Luftwaffe had once again found their target, and as I learned years later by using Dundry Church tower high on a hill to the south west of Bristol as a marker to guide them in over the city.

Air Raid Shelter

Happily, I only once had to use an Air Raid Shelter. The occasion was whilst shopping with my mother in Gloucester. The 鈥楢lert鈥� sounded and we took shelter I believe somewhere in or near Northgate Street. No bombs fell on Gloucester on this occasion and perhaps the raiders were en-route either to or from a northern or midland target.

Rationing and Food

I well recall the rationing and how very scarce food and clothing was, not to mention sweets for the children. Foreign fruit was simply not available. Later in the war when small amounts of fruit began to trickle in from overseas, large queues would form at the shops. Shopkeepers did their best to distribute their small stock as fairly as possible for news soon got around that there was fruit to be had. Family members would queue separately in a bid to acquire double the amount on offer. As in most cases, my parents would give up some of their ration portions to me especially where sweets, sugar and nutrition were concerned.

From time to time we would visit my maternal grandparents at Yew Tree Farm, Upper Morton, near Thornbury. We would return laden with butter, cheese, eggs and ham from the farm, all of which was rationed and in short supply.

Food Production

All available land was used for food production to supplement the great loss of food imports caused by Hitler鈥檚 Atlantic U-boat blockade. Very little land escaped, and the large plateau of Selsley Common near Stroud was ploughed. This was done using several tractors together. It was an unusual sight, for the horse was indeed still very much predominating on the agricultural scene.

During the war the children of farmers were allowed time off school to assist with the harvesting, in particular the potato crop. One or two boys I recall, abused the system in not doing the work for which they had been given the time off for. They undoubtedly had more pleasurable pursuits in mind. Of course if found out then trouble ensued for them. Each autumn we all had a half-day off school to go around the hedgerows and to gather the ripened wild rose hips. The hips were sent away to make the all-nourishing Rose Hip Syrup then very much in demand. In those days many schools took the religious Ascension Day off after first attending church in the morning.

Toys

Toys became very scarce, especially those made of metal. Many of the best toys pre-war had been imported from Germany anyway. Wooden toys therefore became more plentiful, and one improvised in many ways, perhaps by making one鈥檚 own out of cardboard. Therefore the world of make believe, still very much part of growing up was enhanced still further.

Prior to D-Day, the RAF would drop strips of silver foil paper, matt black on the reverse side. This was known as either 鈥楥haff鈥� or 鈥榃indow鈥� and could be found everywhere, in fields, roads and hedgerows. Children soon found a play use for it, one example being cutting it into the shape of a crown to wear on the head.

Fireworks and Blackout

Because of the blackout, November 5th Guy Fawkes bonfires had to be held in the daytime, and no fireworks were available. There were no streetlights, for the blackout was indeed total. Heavy blinds or made-to-measure hardboard sections were placed inside against the windows. Strips of paper tape were criss-crossed and glued to the window-panes, especially on public buildings. This helped to prevent flying glass from a shattering window caused by a bomb blast. Anyone displaying the smallest amount of light, perhaps from ill-fitting blinds or maybe a door left ajar, could expect a knock on the door from the local policeman or air-raid warden issuing a stern warning. Vehicle headlamps were fitted with a special cowling, which only allowed tow or three narrow strips of light. It was a case of being seen by others rather than to able to see oneself. Motorcar bumpers, running boards and front and rear mudguards were partially painted white to the same end.

Gas Masks

The threat, left over from the First World War, of gas warfare was very real and everyone was fitted with a gas mask. These had to be carried at all times, to work, school and shopping etc. They were usually encased in a cardboard box covered with khaki canvass and strap a carried over the shoulder. Ladies could obtain leather like carrying bags if they wished, resembling a second handbag. I remember at one stage everyone had to have an extra filter attached which was taped on with sticky tape. Why this was I never knew. The local home guard exercised, and in the local towns from time to time, a parade of servicemen and women. These parades were often in conjunction with a military charity, or perhaps fund raising for the war effort.

Civil Defence

Most civilians had to do some part-time job in defence of our homeland, be it the Home Guard, Fire Watcher, Air Raid Warden, Fireman, First Aid, Special Constable or the Civil Defence Corps. The Reverand Tidmarsh, Rector of Uley, was a roistered Fire Watcher when one night the home of Mrs Barnett in the main street and not far from the Church and the Rectory caught fire. The ever danger being was that enemy aircraft might be attracted to the blaze and to drop their bombs. The then National Fire Brigade was summoned from Dursley and eventually the fire was extinguished, and with interference from the Luftwaffe, which was always a danger in such circumstances. Their was no injury to life or limb but daybreak revealed much damage to the property 鈥� much to the astonishment of the Rector who had slept through the eventful night, totally unaware of the happenings!

Petrol Rationing and Travel

Petrol was extremely scarce and strictly rationed by a coupon system. Only those who had use of a car for business purposes or for a very special reason were allowed petrol. Such people sometimes managed to keep enough coupons by for the odd social trip. This was illegal though, and there was always the risk of being stopped and questioned about the purpose of one鈥檚 journey.

With the threat of a German invasion very real, all the signposts throughout the land had their markers removed in an attempt to cause as much confusion as possible to the invaders. Concrete bunkers or pillboxes were constructed at strategic places, along the coast, beside rivers, canals, railways and roads. Movable concrete blocks and huge wooden frames entangled with barbed wire were placed at certain points beside the highway. If necessary these could be moved into and across the road, again to hinder the invaders.

Scrap Metal

I well recall the removal of almost all the railing and gates from around people鈥檚 properties by the use of acetylene torches. There was also the collection of redundant metals including pots and pans. All of this was to be melted down to make hardware for the war effort. However, it has since been disclosed that very little of it was used. Perhaps at the time it was good propaganda. Today over sixty years on a great many properties still bear the scars of the iron stumps, which were once railings or gate hinges. Also too, many pillboxes remain and moves are afoot to have them historically listed.

In 1943 we moved to Wickstreet (The Old Painswick Road) connecting Stroud to Painswick and I then went to school in Painswick, often referred to as 鈥楾he Queen of the Cotswold鈥檚. Prior to our arrival, several bombs had fallen on the town and several shops and houses were destroyed in the centre. These were doubtless stray bombs being jettisoned by the homeward bound bombers. At around this time and to the north of the town two United States Army camps were established, these being at Painswick House, and also near the Beech Plantation. One contained white personnel and the other black personnel. Animosity leading to fights was not uncommon between members of the two camps. There was also another camp cross the valley near Bulls Cross. There were tank manoeuvres on Rudge Hill at Edge, which I often observed during the long light summer evenings from my bedroom window. It has to be remembered that during the war the one hour British Summer Time remained throughout the year, increasing to two hours during the summer months and known as Double Summer Time. Among other things it was to help the short-staffed farmers to gather in the all important food crops for the nation.

As children travelling home from school by the public service bus to Stroud, there was always a scrabble to sit next to an American soldier (GI) who might be travelling to Stroud. This was in the hope of obtaining a stick of the much-coveted Wrigley鈥檚 Chewing Gum. If this was not at first forthcoming a youngster could always fall back on the famous catch phrase of the time, 鈥淗ave you got any gum chum鈥�? Whereupon the American would usually oblige, or one might get to sample an army biscuit.

I remember when visiting my grandparents smallholding at Claypits on the main A38 Gloucester to Bristol road, near the turning to Eastington. On visiting there I well remember seeing those very long flat low-loader lorries known as 鈥楺ueen Mary鈥檚 doubtless due to their enormous size and mindful of the then great British passenger liner. These lorries were used to transport sections of damaged crashed aircraft; be they British or German. Then in the late spring of 1944 great American troop and armoured convoys appeared on the A38, and as always travelling south. How massive their vehicles and equipment was. They were on their way to the huge encampments or holding areas all along the south coast in the final preparation for D-Day, which turned out to be 6th June 1944. Many of the troops would wave out cheerily to by-standers, some perhaps never to return to their distant homeland. Looking back now, how young they would have looked.

As D-Day approached, so aircraft activity increased, again heading south, while sometimes towing the massive troop carrying Horsa gliders.

The European theatre of the War ended on 8th May 1945 鈥� known as VE-Day (Victory in Europe Day) I well recall Prime Minister Winston Churchill鈥檚 victory broadcast to the Nation. The end had come before we had chance to complete our making of paper victory bunting at school. At last the silenced church bells rang out again for the first time since 1939 with the exception of the victory at El Alemain in October 1942. At last the blackout was lifted and our towns and cities were lit up again 鈥� something that I could only just remember in Bristol before the war. I attended victory celebrations in Stroud together with my father Henry, and Mary, my mother.

Following the Japanese surrender on 15th August 1945 鈥� know as VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day), an effigy of the Japanese Emperor, Hirohito, was burned on Thornbury Plain during the victory celebrations. I attended thanksgiving services at Pitchcombe, Stroud and Thornbury Churches, which were packed. To this day I still have a copy of the decreed 鈥極rder of Service鈥�. Such hymns as, 鈥楶raise My Soul The King Of Heaven鈥�. And 鈥楢ll People That On Earth Do Dwell鈥� were sung in full vigour. Together with the church bells loud and clear it was a wonderful occasion.

Luckily, few of our family were involved in the fighting, that is except for distant cousin Roly Ford from the tiny village of Hill near Berkeley. Roly served in North Africa in the Eighth Army, the 鈥楧esert Rats鈥� under the then General Bernard Law Montgomery opposing Field Marshal Erwin Rommel the 鈥楧essert Fox鈥�. Roly, a transport driver swept on through Italy taking part in the Battle of Monte Casino and then on to Austria. Meanwhile, a distant Australian relative, Joseph Ford, who served with the Royal Australian Air Force in Europe in Lancaster bombers, performed a daring escape from the Germans having been shot down in France. He finished up a flight Lieutenant. No one in the family suffered any loss of life or limb, and for this we are truly grateful. One has of course a great sense of deep admiration and respect for those less fortunate.

We were indeed privileged. I recall that on the then edge of Thornbury town near the Gloucester Road, there was an Italian Prisoner of War camp. By day the prisoners were sent out in working parties to help with necessary work, mainly on farms. On the back of their overalls they wore either a blue or a yellow round patch 鈥� for whatever reason. Since the War I was privileged to meet and to know an ex-German soldier/ambulance driver and Prisoner of War, Emil Jabs, who had settled, married and raised his family in Yate, near Bristol. Emil had, like Roly Ford, served in Italy albeit on opposite sides.

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