大象传媒

The light house keepers dwellings at Cranfield were an Observation Post where 8 or 9 British Air Service Men were stationed. The officer in charge was Mr Ives (in civilian life he was a valet). Among the officers was Mr Dunn from Carlisle (a fishmonger), Mr John Galloway (a farmer from Ayrshire), Mr Jim Young (painter & decorator), Mr Norman Dan (his father owned a gents outfitters in Edinburgh - very well to do, Mr Jack Clarkson who was mad on music and played the Warsaw Concerto note perfect on the grand piano (he could not read a note of music.)

A lorry came once a week with supplies, but they got their milk, eggs and potatoes at the farm. They usually came three at a time and would stay for a cup of tea and a chat. One of the officers asked my mother and wife "Do you dunk?" They were amused at this officer dunking his biscuits in his cup of tea. Their job at the post was plane spotting and wireless operators.

Military police were stationed at Hill crest (large house beside Kilkeel Joinery Works). They were British and it was up to them to keep control over the armed force personnel. They did not bother the civilans. One of them Winstanley from Bolton was a great personal friend and on his off duty would come out to the house and help with any chores that were going, mucking out the outhouses for example. He transferred to the Tank Corp and was killed on D Day. His mother & sister wrote letters thanking us for the hospitality we showed him.

Dental & Medical Officers stayed in the Royal Hotel Kilkeel, their medical base was at Kity's Road. Among the officers were two nationalized Americans (a Chez & a German). The officers liked to visit the house and they often brought a gift of tea, candy, biscuits or cigarettes. We were invited for a drink with them on a Saturday evening at the hotel. They never forgot our hopsitality even after the war was over they corresponded and sent gifts of candy.

The road to Kilkeel from Cranfield was closed at Eastwood a large house at the edge of the Greencastle airfield. There was a stile and a path across the airfield. The Americans were very good at allowing civilians to cross the airfield, if yiou had a bicycle you had to lift it over the stile. Taxis were scarce. The road re-opened at Davidisons's corner.

Work on the farm carried on much as normal. Potatoes were the hardest to work, but you got help from he Land Army (headquarters at Bally Edmond). I was lucky and got 9 or 10 gatherers out of Attical and Longstone who were sensible workers, but other farmers were not so lucky. Work on the land was done by horse up until 1942 when I was given government permission to purchase a tractor. I bought a basic David Brown for 拢500 from Fred May , Portadown. No hydaraulic gear available (needed for war effort).

Evacuees were placed in the church hall at Cranfield and in one of our bungalows. They were from Belfast. You had no say about taking them.

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