WW2: THE RETURNED SERVICEMEN & THE HOME FRONT: SOME STORIES
[Under construction]
THIS WILL BE A MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTION OF STORIES ABOUT THE RETURNED SERVICEMEN AND LIFE AT HOME [THE HOME FRONT]. SADLY, MANY OF OUR CORRESPONDENTS HAVE PASSED AWAY BUT THEIR STORIES REMAIN WITH US. NEW CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MOST WELCOME.
God bless you all. This is your victory!
It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land. In all our long history we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best. Everyone has tried. Neither the long years, nor the dangers, nor the fierce attacks of the enemy, have in any way weakened the independent resolve of the British nation. God bless you all.
Winston Churchill, Whitehall London, 8 May 1945
Above: Evenwood & Ramshaw History Society’s VE Day banner & a good luck charm – it’s George Simpson’s teddy which accompanied him on his missions. He’s lying on the silk map of Europe which all air crew had in their emergency packs. Although, his Lancaster bomber crash landed, it was in neutral Sweden and days from the end of the war in Europe. George was injured but safe. Teddy had done his job! Read about George below.
And a couple of VE DAY 75 stones which have started to appear throughout Evenwood & Ramshaw – thank you
“Memories of the Home Guard” by the late Raymond Gibson
Cockfield Home Guard 1943: photograph
R.O.F. Aycliffe & Aycliffe Angels by the late Nancy Horsman [nee Brown]
“My World War Two Reminiscences” by the late Doris Kay [nee Vickers]
“I was the youngest Aycliffe Angel” by Eric Welsh
“Women’s Land Army” by the late Peggy Fuller [nee Carrick]
“My time in the Women’s Land Army” by the late Edna Thompson
Auxiliary Territorial Service [ATS] by Peggy Hicks and Hilda Bell
“My Story as an Evacuee” by Helen Smith
“A London boy in Butterknowle” by the late Jim Atkinson
“My Second World War Reminiscences” by the late Nancy Bell
“Memories of a Little Girl” by Jean Green [nee Watson]
“Bananas” by the late Ken Hamilton
Flight Sergeant George W. SIMPSON awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
A Trip to Poland & a Mystery Letter
Ena Gowland interviewed by Emma Lowson
“My Childhood Memories” by Ena Gowland [nee Stephenson]
1944 Bacon and Eggs by Ena Gowland [nee Stephenson] & Eric Stephenson
Ena Gowland & Willi Maass: an update
Air Raid on Ramshaw by the late Bernard Hannon
German Bombers Overhead by Ena Gowland [nee Stephenson]
Leading Aircraftsman Russell PLACE RAFVR
Leading Aircraftman THOMAS McCUTCHEON
The Arctic Convoys: In Remembrance
The Battle for Norway – April/June 1940
The Battle of the Atlantic: Enigma
THE GAUNLESS VALLEY THOSE WHO DIED IN THE SOUTH EAST ASIA THEATRE OF WAR
