MY MEMORIES FROM CATTLE END
PART 20
It was in May 1942 that the first American airmen arrived at Grafton Underwood and they would be followed by their colleagues arriving at regular intervals until the spring of 1944. Almost 20,000 were serving at the seven USAAF airfields in Northamptonshire. Each of these airfields became effectively ‘Little Americas’ where the American way of life had been transferred into the English countryside. The narrow lanes soon became congested with American lorries and jeeps, and towns and villages echoed to the sound of American accents. Certainly the American airmen brought a touch of glamour to wartime austerity Britain. The appearance of such stars as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Glen Miller, Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich at the nearby air bases seemed to bring Hollywood that much closer than on the screens of the local cinemas. Strong and faithful links of friendship that were established with the local communities during these brief years have survived right up to the present day.
On the 30th/31st May 1942 the Royal Air Force made the first 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne, in retaliation for the German bomber raid on Coventry.
More rationing takes place on the 27th of July 1942, when chocolates and sweets are rationed; each person was rationed to 2oz per week.
Long before the war’s end, it became clear who was going to win. The first glimmer of success had come at the battle of El Alamein that began on the 24th October 1942. Montgomery’s Eighth Army broke through Rommel’s front line, they took 9,000 prisoners. On 3rd of November the church bells all over Britain rang out a peal to celebrate the British victory at El Alamein.
The radio kept people informed of events such as this, also for programmes put out by the Ministry of Food regarding making do with leftovers, nothing was supposed to be wasted.
Being concerned about the people’s health, the Government appointed Dr Charles Hill as the radio doctor who had a half-hour programme every Wednesday morning. In his deep voice he would advise listeners on diet problems and tummy troubles, one of his main topics was indigestion, all you need for this, he would explain, is bicarbonate of soda.
I can remember, before the war, a gentleman used to travel round the villages selling bottles of peppermint oil at half-a-crown a bottle. The elderly ladies of the village used to purchase this as a relief for indigestion and wind; they would add a drop of warm water to a small amount of peppermint and drink it, five-minute cure. This remedy was given to me by Charlie Lake whom I worked with at Green Farm. His wife was a firm believer in it as were the other ladies of the village.
One lady that didn’t buy peppermint was Patty Blake; she made here own wine. One of her specials was sloe wine; one drink was enough for anyone. I think she made it to a special recipe. She also had a gentleman call with wine that was contained in the stone jars that held a gallon. The gentleman used to deliver by way of a motor car which was known as a Dicky, the boot used to lift up to reveal another seat or space for luggage. I don’t think Patty offered any of this wine to visitors, homemade was only offered.
By 1942 every Home Guard had got a rifle, these were 303 rifles sent over from America buy way of the Lease Lend Agreement. They now looked like a Rapid Reaction Force. Before the arrives of the rifles those that had shotguns of their own used to take them. Very often the men who were on the second patrol, 1.30 – 6 am, and had their own shotguns would at first light wander round the fields in search of rabbits, this I think brought about the song “Run Rabbit Run” sung by Budd Flanigan & Chesney Allen.
One thing about the Home Guard it brought people together, I remember every Friday evening, after drill in the Village Hall, most of the men went down to the Crown for a drink including Bill Bazeley who was a tea-totaller and a devout churchman. Bill used to stand at the Bar and have a glass of lemonade and have a chat with the others, he was as one of the group. After the disbanding of the Home Guard Bill wasn’t seen in the pub again.
I often wonder what the late Rob Whilton would have thought had he been with the Weedon Home Guard. Rob was an elderly comedian, a very similar person to Godfrey on Dads Army. He would stand on stage with his hand on the side of his face and recite his lines, The Day War Broke Out, something like this –
The Day War Broke Out the wife said to me, ‘what are you going to do for the war effort’. ‘Well’, I said, ‘I thought about jointing the Lois Weedon Home Guard. ‘Well’, she said ‘How do you think your going to stop Hitler’. ‘Well’,. I said, ‘ there is not only me, there is Sid Daniels, Bill Bazeley, Mack Hinton and Walt Barrett’. ‘Well’, she said ‘that only makes five of you’. ‘Well’ I said ‘there is not only us but a lot more and all the ones at Weston and all over the country in the villages, towns and cities. Oh, look at the time, I should have been at the Crown, George Owen and Sid Wills will be got their first drinks in by now.’ The wife said, ‘Why, do they live there?’ ‘not quite’ I said. . ‘You see George lives at Weedon and Sid lives at Weston and when George goes past Sid’s house he stops and shouts at the window “Coming Up” and Sid replies”Wait a minute George” who waits outside for Sid, they then go up together and in the back door and up the passage to the bar. When they have got their drinks and it is cold in the winter they go and sit one each side of the fire. When it is very cold they put their beer in a saucepan and put it on the fire to warm it up.’ The wife said ‘I thought it was brewed already’. I said ‘I know it’s brewed already, they just put it on the fire to warm it up’. The wife will never understand. Life will never be the same again.
A Tribute to Robb Whilton.