Browse Items (338 total)
- Tags: childhood in wartime
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Interview with Elizabeth Wickstead
Elizabeth Wickstead was born in Brighton, in 1928, and moved between villages in the Sussex area. Elizabeth remembers the announcement of the war in September 1939, and remembers the arrival of evacuees from London and the schools being separate from…
Interview with Eileen Widdowson
Born in Peterborough, Eileen Widdowson’s father died when she was quite young, which resulted in the family moving to Grantham. With the East Coast main railway line and also a munitions factory, Grantham was a regular target for the Luftwaffe.…
Interview with Tom and Gabi Wilson
Gabi Wilson grew up in Berlin and was a schoolgirl in 1939. She discusses one brother training as an interpreter and another brother returning from Russian prisoner of war camps. She worked as an apprentice at a publisher firm. She met her husband,…
Interview with Eric Wright
Eric Wright in lived in Rotherham at the start of the war. As a school child he says that he did not really understand the implications of it. The family moved to Nottingham and he describes life there, with the air raids and sheltering under the…
Interview with Robin Wright
Robin was born in Norwich on 16th June 1937. His father was in the Royal Air Force in Manchester, and then in Thetford Forest where the Merlin engines were stored. He finished his service at RAF Marham. Robin spoke about his school days. He…
Interview with Helga Wynne and Gordon Atkinson
Helga (00:00-34:00) was born in Kiel in 1926. Her father was a sailor, who then worked at Krupp shipbuilding yard; her mother was a tram driver during the war. None of her brothers were called up, either because of age or disability. She mentions…
To Jessie from Harry Redgrave
A letter from Harry Redgrave to his wife Jessie when he was undergoing RAF aircrew training in Scotland. He writes of his shortage of cash that affects his trips and present buying. The possible evacuation of schoolchildren in Southend is mentioned.…
Tags: aircrew; childhood in wartime; entertainment; evacuation; sport; training
Letter from David Donaldson to Mrs M Carley
Writes enclosing a cheque for £12 contributed by members of the squadron for her children.
To Janet from Rupert Harwood
A letter written by Ruper Harwood to his daughter 'Darling Little Janet', telling her not to worry if he is reported missing.
Celebratory letter from King George
Letter from King George to all school-children, celebrating and sharing the victory of the allied nations. It is headed with the Royal Standard, in colour. On the reverse a list of 60 important war dates.
Boy and bomb-site
Bomb-site with young man sitting in foreground with his head in his hands.
Tags: bombing; childhood in wartime; home front
The prisoner of war, Vol 3, No. 31, November 1944
Includes: editorial news; the food they like; the brighter side; the letters they write home; official reports from the camps; scenes from camp shows; notes on Oflag Va; how they help (fundraising at home); three men of the spearhead; examination…
The prisoner of war, Vol 2, No. 16, August 1943
Includes: editorial matters; music round the camps; official reports from the camps; (two pages missing); letters; how they help funds (fund raising at home); fun and games; news from the far east; parcel points; knitting pattern for 'waistcoat for…
Interview with Pat Rumfitt
Pat Rumfitt was born in 1927 and experienced a privileged upbringing living in Kent as an only child before the war. She describes the resilient attitude to bombing in Bromley, walking to their flooded Anderson Shelter in her dressing gown and…
The RAF Greeting
A calendar for a child. A child is in a model aeroplane with a dog. There is also an enamel metal RAF badge. On the reverse 'All the best to you David, & boys of the Crew, Betty'. The front is signed by David's crew and has bombs indicating…
Interview with Pat Harrison
Pat Harrison was born in Lincoln and was the only girl of four children. Her father joined the Royal Air Force after serving as an air raid warden. Pat remembers the arrival of evacuees in Lincoln and also recalls occasions when bombing resulted in…
Party in Lido
Four children sitting round a table. A girl on the right is in a high chair and a boy in centre is back to the camera. There are Christmas crackers on the table. In the background windows. On the reverse 'No 46, Sergeant J R M Valentine, British…
Letter from Ursula Valentine to her husband John Valentine
Writes of rain, gardening and finances. Concludes with family chat and fact that daughter Frances is not taking to new gas mask.
Tags: childhood in wartime
Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula
Writes of visits to cinema and of domestic activities. Continues with story of her sister's photographic efforts. Mentions letters she has dispatched with photographs. Writes of spending session in air raid shelter which daughter Frances took in good…
Se trovate un oggetto simile non toccatelo! Avvisate subito i carabinieri
A boy in tears with amputated hands is holding a green toy truck. His stumps are bandaged. Behind him, an explosion is throwing in the air four maimed children. On the reverse, different kinds of explosive devices are shown. The text urges not to…
Tags: childhood in wartime
No. C’e’ la morte!
A boy in summer clothing is about to touch an unexploded bomb partially embedded in the ground. Behind him, a young woman in anguish with outstretched arm and open palm. Below, line drawings of fuses, bombs and other explosive devices. The text urges…
Tags: childhood in wartime
Account of German witness to crash of John Valentines aircraft
Written by one of Philip Floyd's (pilot of John Valentine's aircraft) brother Michael's children based on conversations with parents. Recounts a letter to a German newspaper from a Werner Gerlach who as a young 15 year old boy witnessed the shooting…
Sea sense
Main article concerning differences in sea bathing for evacuated children on east or west coasts. Offers advice to parents. Includes Pop cartoon at top right.
Tags: childhood in wartime; evacuation
Battle of Britain: RAF on offensive
Front page - contains Churchill battle of Britain quote.Subsidiary headlines: dictators talk four hours; French general's appeal from London, let all children go to safety. Photograph of evacuated children sitting in row with crowd behind them.
Immediate training for all men fit to fight
Main article - states all men it is possible to use in defence of Britain will be called up and trained immediately with or without uniforms or equipment. Other headlines: obey these orders in invasion, give |L.D.V more weapons. Children for Canada…