WW2: SOME STORIES

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.

The Home Front

“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 Carrick]

“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

More of Peggy Hicks’ photos

“My Story as an Evacuee” by Helen Smith

“A London boy in Butterknowle” by the late Jim Atkinson