Bedfordshire

Good Comes From Evil: Part 2

The Wartime Fire Station and Fire-Fighting Displays

Shortly before the war, the Fire Station was moved from the rear of the Town Hall to a new building...

Wax Polish

I looked up at this lady with a kind face handing me a glass full of milk. better than a jamjar of...

V.E.Day: May 8th, 1945

We passed Dudeney and Johnsons shop where we used to go dancing on some evenings and saw a notice in the...

Evacuation to Bedford

Arriving at Bedford Railway Station along with several other families we were taken to St. Cuthberts Church...

Women working in munitions

Although we didn't think about the war, the firm I worked for, Charles Letts the diary people, were...

In 1939: From Poverty to Country Pursuits in Bedfordshire

The two girls went to Baker's farm and us three boys went to the head gardener's house on Lord and...

Random Memories of a Bedford Schoolboy

My grandfather was a lorry driver and contracted to London Brick. During the day he would take a lorry load...

The Met Office and Bombs in a Field

To us at the time, it was something of a mystery but after the war the camouflage was removed, the huts and...

Savings Weeks, Competitions, School Parties and Messerschmitts

Others were: - A “Link Trainer” used for basic and blind flying tuition by the R.A.F., this was...

Parachute Flares and Mortar Bombs

The bombs were fired high into the air above the slope of the Downs, as they reached the zenith of their...

Disjointed Memories

Great was the copntempt of those of us in London for the cowards who had run away from bombs, the doodle...

A BBC Engineer in Bedford

I was one of the BBC Engineers at the Co-Partners Hall and Corn Exchange in Bedford, the two studios in the...

The Lighter Side of War CHAPTER 4: - Vauxhall (Bedford) engine plant, Luton July-August 1940

Her sister was going out with an Irish lad, a lorry driver intending to join the British Army. Friendships...

Evacuation

My sister aged 9 and brother aged 4 were also being evacuated and mum and dad said that I should go with...

Letters home to mum and dad: In the RAF, leaving Cardington

There are quite a lot of planes around here, mostly Yankees; Torts, Lightnings, Thunderbolts, Spits,...

The VE Day Street Party

My friends and I were playing football on the Grammar School Sports-field when we heard the bells ringing...

Panic Over Snowden part 1

In non-pressurised aircraft, above a certain altitude, you need a supply of oxygen otherwise your brain...

The Radio, Newspapers and Comics

After the war I learned that the German Ministry Of Propaganda had even suggested that the sound...

Letters home to mum and dad: RAF Training

I am in another hut from the one I slept in the first night and it has no wireless. Did you hear...

Prelude and "The Day War Broke Out"

They were issued and fitted in a large room to the rear of the “Cycles and Wireless” shop in...

Molly's War Effort -part 9 (the end)

To her reply I have never done so sir the officer replied well you can by placing it in water in the...

Mourne Wartime Memories

The officer in charge was Mr Ives. Among the officers was Mr Dunn from Carlisle, Mr John Galloway, Mr Jim...

Early signs of VE Day

As soon as we were in place, along with as many other airmen as could be gathered together at very short...

Dad as a Conchie

What took us to Haynes? I believe it was on the recommendation of the DeBell family, acquaintances of...

Panic Over Snowden part 2

"Probably his intercom plug is out Stu" came the voice of Wal, the bomb aimer. " I could hear...