- Contributed byÌý
- CSV Actiondesk at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Oxford
- People in story:Ìý
- Ron Haynes, Mrs Smylie (nee Rigdon), Jim Plater
- Location of story:Ìý
- Bicester, Oxfordshire
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A7204187
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 22 November 2005
I was in the Scouts and we were allowed through the Airfield to get there. One time, we couldn’t get back to Bicester because there was a raid on. We went to the scout leader’s (Mrs Smylie nee Rigdon) house for tea. We listened to music — that wasn’t my cup of tea! It was decided that we’d have to stop the night, but I couldn’t because I had a paper round — Marsh Gibbon, Launton and Poundon. Jim Plater, a patrol leader, kept an eye on us as we cycled back to Bicester without lights. We saw incendiary bombs and when Jim braked we all ran into the back of him!
Mrs Smylie was a magistrate. My Dad and I were out rabbitting; rabbits were in demand during the war. We had permission from the farmer’s son (the Bonners). When Sergeant Judd and his men arrived, I laid on three dogs and we put rabbits down our trousers. 10/- fine for that. At Scouts, Mrs Smylie said we were going to learn The Lincolnshire Poacher and I thought she was getting at me!
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo