Tag Archives: 1939

Carol Corbett:WWII Bun Cotton 1930s, 1940s

My Dad, ‘Bun’ Cotton was called up before the war to do Military training, in the Militia, July 15th 1939. When war broke outhe was transferred to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and sent to France with the B.E.F. Although his section was abandoned  in the retreat and had one member suffering from shell shock,, they made their way back to Dunkirk and were evacuated. Eventually, because of his technical plumbing skills, he was transferredto the Royal Artillery as a Gunsight Fitter and served with the Army in Africa, and up through Italy. He was demobbed in January 1946. 

Bun enlisting

Bun enlisting : photo Carol Corbett

b 1946

Pat Burt, Annette Haynes: WWII air raid sirens

Kevack across to North House

Kevack across to North House

I remember hearing war had broken out on the radio. We lived in the stone cottage ‘Kevack’ in the High Street. During the early part of the war when the air raid sirens went, we used to rush over and down into the cellars of North House, but that was only for a short while until we had the Morrison table shelter delivered  –  I think we had that by 1942.    Pat Burt

I was away in Castle Bromwich, near Birmingham, when war broke out. I was staying with a friend of my mother’s, I called her my aunt – she wanted to adopt me.  I was so worried because my mother couldn’t get me a gas mask because I wasn’t at home, and my ‘aunt’ couldn’t get a gas mask for me.  I had to come back home of course.
We had an Anderson shelter in the garden.  I remember my brother saying, ‘If I’m going to be killed, I’ll be killed in my bed. I’m not going down to the shelter.’
Annette Haynes

Ralph Smith: WWII

When war broke out I was working in Mills Grocers shop and driving their delivery van.  Ralph Smith, who worked there too, was a pork butcher. He and I were near enough courting (and married 1945).  He joined the Isle of Wight Territorials, ( Princess Beatrice’s Own) at Freshwater on March 4th, 1939 and was mobilised at the end of July and stationed  first of all at the Needles Battery, on Coastal Guns.

Ralph manned a Lewis gun during the Battle of Britain, served  in Algeria, Medjes el Bab, Tunisia with the Ist Army, in Italy, Monte Casino, Tel Aviv, Palestine, Greece, back to Italy before VE Day. After VE Day, he was sent to Klagenfurt, Austria, Germany and Belgium. He was demobbed on March 1st 1946.

Ralph Smith on leave in Egypt

Ralph Smith on rest camp near Cairo after 6 months at the line in Tunisia: Photo Eileen Smith

Joy Lawry: WWII 1939

WWII

In 1938, for Yarmouth, like other communities, life changed; we were preparing for war. Everyone was fitted with gas masks and volunteers were called for A.R.P. duties (Air Raid Precautions) and for the L.D.V. (Local Defence Volunteers), later known as the Home Guard.  Conscription for the forces began with what were known as the “Militia Boys” and they all did us proud.  Yarmouth at that time was a very close community, families and their forbears having lived here for a very long time.  Our young men found it hard being taken from working as butchers, bakers etc. to, after a short training, becoming a fighting force.

Town Hall sandbagged 1939

Town Hall sandbagged 1939 photo: Eileen Smith

The A.R.P. had their headquarters at the well- sandbagged Town Hall to begin with, but moved later to the Royal Solent Yacht Club where frequent blood-doning sessions were held.  The A.R.P. consisted of telephonists, wardens, First Aid and ambulance drivers.  The ambulance was a laundry van, from the laundry in Heytesbury Road which was the main employer of women in Yarmouth, with some male drivers. Rescue practices were held at the Mill.
Some men and women went to work in Aircraft factories at Freshwater and Cowes.  Several girls joined the forces, and women took over from the men by driving delivery vans.

 from an article by Joy  Lawry nee Cotton b 1922