#WW2 John Allpress - An Evacuee Tells Of His Experience Courtesy Of The Imperial War Museum

This is an excellent video of John Allpress, an evacuee's experience in the Second World War, courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.

#WW2 Evacuation From Towns & Cities

S.S City of Benares

Evacuation from Britain's major towns and cities was undertaken in the first 4 days of the war, nearly 3 million civilians uprooted from their homes and taken into less populated areas, even abroad.
Not everyone was lucky enough to have a good host family, some were abused. Michael Caine spoke about his experiences on Radio 4, Michael and his brother were evacuated from London, for misbehaving they were locked in a small cupboard. When his Mother found out, she assaulted the offending woman for abusing her boys, I'm sure she took them home but I can't find any evidence to support this.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9931161/Sir-Michael-Caine-I-distrust-everyone-after-I-was-locked-in-a-cupboard-as-a-child.html

There is no doubt that evacuation affected many people for the rest of their lives, but also saved many. Evacuation abroad ceased when U-boats sank a liner carrying evacuees to the United States on the S.S City of Benares. Only 13 children survived from 90 who had set out on the voyage.

Survivors in a lifeboat from the S.S City of Benares http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/10/article-2112768-1213E80E000005DC-307_306x446.jpg

#WW2 The Last Flight Of The Lorna Jane

Image from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B90s74JIIAEs_-6.jpg

This is my first attempt at writing some fiction. I have always been a fan of war fiction and this is a short story (which I may develop) about the crew of the Lorna Jane, a B-17 based in Lincolnshire.

The Last Flight of The Lorna Jane

Flames were erupting from the control panel. Luckily they weren't near Roy yet. However the co-pilot's clothes were starting to burn. It didn't matter too much as he was dead, cannon shells from the ME 262 had gone straight through the front of the B-17 Flying Fortress and he had died instantly. He was just sat in his seat, head lolling forward, eyes staring sightlessly ahead.

Roy struggled to hold the aircraft, the crew intercom still worked, he could use some help so he shouted to his engineer

'Mike are you ok?'

'Yes Sir' , he replied, 'I'm fine and dandy'.

'Get up here will you and bring the extinguisher, that 262 nearly took me out, he got Schmidt and he's burning.'

'Damn it, yeah I'm coming.'

Mike Watson grabbed the extinguisher and made his way up through the fuselage of the aircraft, the stench of burning flesh and rubber nearly made him retch. Why did the smell of burning flesh smell like pork? He doused the flames on the control panel, then turned his attention to the dead co-pilot.

‘Hey skipper, that 262 he’s coming back !’, shouted Castilano, one of the waist gunners.

Sergeant Eugene Castilano was a decent shot with the 0.5' machine gun.

'Coming in fast at three o'clock!!' he shouted at the same time as opening fire. The enemy jet fighter passed under the aircraft enabling the ball gunner and other waist gunner to fire on the Me262. The problem was they were so fast, and the gunners only had 500 rounds of ammunition per gun. This meant they had to be very careful about conserving ammunition.

Roy took advantage of some cloud cover to try and lose the enemy fighter jet. He increased the throttle speed and applied full rudder, hopefully if they couldn’t see the enemy he couldn’t see them. Roy thought he had better check the rest of the crew.

'Hey guys check in, will ya? I need to know if you're all still ticking.'

One by one the crew checked in with Roy, Varsinski, the tail gunner was the last of the crew to respond. He was a kid from Idaho who had been a mechanic before the war. He used to go duck hunting with his father and was now able to use his skills to shoot down enemy aircraft. He had caught a flak splinter in the shoulder but was fine.

Roy took a moment to survey the damage. Altimeter and artificial horizon had stopped working, the windscreen was shattered letting in a gale of a draught. Thank God for heated flight suits. Even though Roy was 6'' in height and weighed 210 lbs, he was starting to struggle to hold he B-17 straight and level. He was having to keep the rudder pedal down all the time, every time he let go the aircraft would veer to the left.

'Hey, Dave, you busy?' shouted Roy to the navigator.

'No sir, sat with my feet up' .

'Get up here and give me a hand. You are now the unofficial co-pilot.'

'On my way', Dave replied.

Dave Barker made his way up the fuselage of the aircraft, he had to move the dead co-pilot out of his seat first, this wasn't easy as he was a big man. He dumped him unceremoniously in the bomb bay, leaving a dark red smear of blood in his wake.

'We seem to have lost him, everyone' said Roy, referring to the enemy plane, 'but keep your eyes peeled.'

Apart from the damage to the front of the aircraft and the dead crew-member, Roy felt that they had got off quite lightly. All engines were still working ok and they were on their way back to Lincolnshire, England. He wished he hadn't lost the formation but he hadn't much choice. First there had been flak, hitting the aircraft sending it all over the sky and then the cloudbase. The Lorna Jane had been at the very back of the formation, the most vulnerable place to be. His C.O had told him it was because he was the most experienced pilot, he had a good record of getting back to base after a mission had finished.

His mind drifted back to the weekend dance in the village.

There was little to occupy the American bomber crews in rural England. The only events that sparked some excitement were the local village dances. The absence of local young men and a surplus of young ladies usually meant a good night. Roy, a tall handsome all-American man was single. His strong athletic build from time spent on the athletic track had resulted in plenty of admirers of the opposite sex, but he had always been shy in female company.

'Look at that broad over there Roy – the dark haired one, she’s never taken her eyes off you since we got here', said Frank Schmidt, his co-pilot.

Roy was busy draining another pint of weak English beer. He put his glass down and glanced over. She was in her early twenties and slim with a pale complexion. Everyone in England looked pale, the rationing was to blame for that. This girl had the most beautiful brown eyes . Their eyes met. She smiled at him, he smiled back.

'Aren't you going to ask her for a dance?' If you don't , I'm flamin' sure I will', said Frank, who had also been admiring her.

'I'll finish my beer first man'.

Unfortunately for Roy, another airman had made his way over to her and was leading her on the dance floor as he was putting his empty glass down.

'You've lost your chance there Roy', goaded Frank.

'Wanna bet?, he replied.

Roy straightened his tie, and walked towards the dancing couple.

'Excuse me, I believe there is a Sergeant Wallace looking for you, he's waiting outside with the jeep'

'What ?', said the young airman.

'You are needed back at base, something to do with your 'plane, some flak damage that wasn't reported'.

'It'll wait 'til morning, can't you let me dance ?'

'That's an order', said Roy, in his best parade ground voice.

His adversary stopped dancing, and was going to say farewell to his dancing partner but she had not stopped staring at Roy since he walked over. He walked over the dance floor, avoiding the other couples and walked out of the door without looking back.

'May I have the pleasure of this dance Ma’am?', said Roy

'It would be rude of me to say no'.

'What do they call you anyway?', asked Roy as they danced round the hall.

'My name is Kate and you?'

'Captain Roy Stevenson of the U.S Army Air Force at your service'.

'ROY. ROY! Two Focke Wulfs on the starboard side', a voice shouted at him over the intercom, waking him up from his daydream.

'Hang on everyone, corkscrew to port'. Roy took the B-17 into a steep corkscrew dive, in an attempt to shake off another enemy fighter. Would they make it home?

#WW2, B-17 Bombing Missions in Color: "The Memphis Belle" 1944 US Army Air For...

Am writing a short story on  a bomber crew, whilst doing some research I found this excellent propaganda film from the war. I never realised the King & Queen met the crew of the Memphis Belle.

#ww2 Rationing In The Second World War In Great Britain

Image found at http://images.esellerpro.com/2486/I/313/8/coaster-ration-book.jpg

In Great Britain rationing food was essential to the country's survival. As soon as hostilities began on September 3rd 1939, Great Britain was effectively under siege,and from June 1940 she was on her own. Due to being an island, food had to be rationed other wise the country would run out of food. Without imports from U.S.A, Canada and the Commonwealth life would have been impossible. The war in the Atlantic also took its toll on imports,reaching a peak in 1943. From the outset, the population of Great Britain had to grin and bear it before any bombs had fallen.

Image found at: http://www.rhiw.com/y_mor/hugh_roberts/atlantic/shipsbuiltandsunk.gif

 

WW2 Food Rations.

This is the ration for one adult per week.

BACON and HAM ……… 4ozs ( 100g )
MEAT …………………… to the value of 1s.2d ( 6p today ). Sausages were not rationed but difficult to obtain : offal was originally unrationed but sometimes formed part of the meat ration.
BUTTER ………………… 2ozs ( 50g )
CHEESE ………………… 2ozs ( 50g ) sometimes it rose to 4ozs ( 100g ) and even up to 8ozs ( 225g )
MARGARINE ……………… 4ozs ( 100g )
COOKING FAT …………… 4ozs ( 100g ) often dropping to 2ozs ( 50g )
MILK …………………… 3 pints ( 1800ml ) sometimes dropping to 2 pints ( 1200ml ). Household ( skimmed, dried ) milk was available. This was I packet each 4 weeks.
SUGAR …………………… 8ozs ( 225g )
PRESERVES ……………… 1lb ( 450g ) every 2 months
TEA ……………………… 2ozs ( 50g )
EGGS …………………… 1 shell egg a week if available but at times dropping to 1 every two weeks. Dried eggs ----- 1 packet each 4 weeks.
SWEETS …………………… 12 ozs ( 350g ) each 4 weeks.

In addition, there was a monthly points system.
As an example of how these could be spent, with the 16 points that you were allocated you were allowed to buy one can of fish or meat or 2lb ( 900g ) of dried fruit or 8lb ( 3.6kg ) of split peas.

Babies and younger children, expectant and nursing mothers had concentrated orange juice and cod liver oil from Welfare Clinics together with priority milk.
This milk was also available to invalids.

School meals were started in the war because mothers were working extremely long hours to help the war effort.

Information from:http://www.memorylanehf.oddquine.co.uk/food.htm

#WW2 Blackout in Britain September 1st 1939

Image found at:http://www.homesweethomefront.co.uk/images/jpeg/hshf_img_lady.jpg

The blackout in Great Britain began on September 1st 1939, two days before the outbreak of war. It was to prevent enemy aircraft finding their targets at night.The rules were very strict, no chinks of lights, no see through curtains, no glowing cigarette ends. Car headlights were dimmed as were street lights. As a result the immediate effects were more pedestrian accidents, and more crimes committed.

One of the most important jobs of the Air Raid Warden was to patrol his area and make sure there were no tell tale lights.  

Child drawing curtains ww2, image found at: http://blog.blinds.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ww2_drawing_curtains.jpg

Even dairy cows had to be hi viz in #ww2, image found at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2005/03/01/hu36167_blackout_bull_450x350.jpg

Air Raid Sirens In The Second World War

Probably the first thing most people heard after Chamberlain's famous speech on the outbreak of war in September 1939 was the air raid siren. This was an essential piece of kit used to warn both the military and civilians of the threat of enemy aircraft and bombing.Two tones were used; Red Alert which meant imminent attack and the All Clear which meant it was safe to leave your shelter (if you were lucky enough to have one/find one).

Some were hand cranked:

Image found at: http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/9i1QAtET0ok/hqdefault.jpg

Others were electric and obviously a lot louder:

Image found at:http://www.sutton-coldfield.net/ww2/air%20raid%20siren.jpg

The only information about who manufactured them is on this page about the blitz in Liverpool: Liverpool Blitz - the sound of the air raid siren. It says that Gents of Leicestershire made the sirens that were used in Britain throughout the war. Below is an excellent extract from a 1939 film, The Warning, courtesy of BFI.

Joy Division (2006)

Joy Division - not the band, or a film about the band, is an excellent film about a young German boy in the last days of Nazi Germany. It is very watchable, graphic in places and follows the trials and tribulations of a young Thomas from fighting the Red Army, his flight from the advancing troops to his capture and love of a neighbour called Melanie. Then it aspires that Thomas is living in the Soviet Union and becomes a spy for the KGB.  What is original is that it does not run chronologically but more in a Pulp Fiction style which I enjoyed. It is very dark in places, showing the brutality of Soviet troops, but one can't help but feel admiration for the main character as he never gives up on whatever tasks lie ahead, he keeps going  no matter what.

Remember The Liverpool Blitz January 9th 1941

Lord St, Liverpool, found at:http://liverpoolblitz70.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/lord-street-blitz-1.jpg

One gets the impression that people are unaware that Germany bombed other towns and cities as well as our beloved capital - London. Liverpool in World War 2 was an importnat port as that was where most imports from the North American continent arrived, hence it became a target. Have a look at this link re. the Liverpool Blitz, http://liverpoolremembrance.weebly.com/bombings-1941.html .

Freedom Of Speech & Je Suis Charlie

Freedom of speech. Is this going to be a thing of the past? What is wrong with putting opinions onto paper and distributing them?

Ithink there is nothing wrong with this as long as the material is decent and not obscene. You will always upset someone. Keep writing. Tell it how it is. Print the truth. We have a decent society where freedom of speech is allowed and not suppressed.  Above all, remember:

JE SUIS CHARLIE