Cumbria

The Hodges Family in 1939 - Newcastle, Keswick, Carlisle

Mary and I had an earnest discussion as to whether we alighted at Fratton or Portsmouth and Southsea, but...

Love and Loss for the Clarke-Johnson Family in Both Wars

When Meg returned to Nantwich, she found herself living very near to my father, Jay Johnson, who had digs...

A Whitehaven 'Screen Lass' Remembers World War Two

Introduction This article has been submitted on behalf of Mrs Annie Ferguson from Whitehaven, Cumbria who...

The Homing Pigeon that Became Pigeon Pie

Fire watch groups were formed by local businesses to maintain watch for incendiary bombs on the roofs of...

Called Up into the Parachute Regiment (1939-45)

The station was crowded as usual with servicemen and -women from the Army, Navy and Air forces of many...

Why the Land Army?

A representative from the Land Army called to see me whilst I was mowing thistles with a scythe,. I was...

An Unwanted Letter from the Minister of War Transport in London

As mentioned by Lord Leathers in his letter to Evelyn, those Merchant Seamen who have lost their lives in...

Our Memories of Evacuation from Newcastle to Cumbria

Some of us left the train at Warwick Bridge, and were taken to the church hall; the host families selected...

Latterbarrow Bomb

I narrate this story as told to me by my father, Jack Hodgson who is now a sprightly 84 years young.During...

Spitfire over Silverdale

The farm lay on the flight path of some spitfire squadrons which would fly low over the farm from time to...

Called to the Colours

From the Preliminary Training Corps at Beverley those of us selected for posting to the Royal Armoured...

“We used to Pray for all our Relatives away in the Army”.

My cousin Hugh McGuinness was in the Territorial Army with my Dad and he went away with the 5th Border...

“I Came Back Home To Whitehaven To Help My Mam And Dad”

Ronald and Marie Just before the twins were born in February 1944, Tom went to London and he was Best Man...

Whitehaven gets its ‘Wings’, and suffers a plane crash on the same day!

Among those present at the ceremony, as reported in 'The Whitehaven News' in the edition published...

My War

We watched as my brother was taken away by an old lady with grey hair and an unsmiling face, but I held...

“If one of those shells hits the boat we’re all finished!”

In 1944, Pat was part of the 11th Armoured Division and took part in the Normandy Landings, arriving at...

The World War Two Memorial, St Nicholas’s Church, Whitehaven, Cumbria.

Many men and boys from Whitehaven and West Cumbria were involved in the Dunkirk evacuation, particularly...

Growing up in Whitehaven, Cumbria during World War Two

Mark came to Whitehaven with a large number of children accompanied by their teachers, one of whom was a...

Remembering the “Sleepy little town of Whitehaven” during World War Two

My name is John McCrickett and these are a few of the memories I have about my home town of Whitehaven, in...

Memories of a Cumbrian 'Mining Lad' Called Up by the RAMC

I was born at a small village, at Scilly Banks, near Moresby Parks which is a few miles from Whitehaven in...

Pit Village Life in Scilly Banks and Moresby Parks, Cumberland during World War Two

During World War Two Joe worked at Walkmill Colliery in the nearby village of Moresby Parks and was a...

“Believe Me, ‘Dad’s Army’ Was Not Much Of An Exaggeration!”

Jim has been an active member of the West Cumbria Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association and has...

The Veterans' Association Always Brings Back Memories

He has been an active member of the Normandy Veterans Association since 1989 and he is also a member of the...

Surviving the War in Cumbria

Chief among these were Tommy Handley's "Itma", Henry Hall's"Music Night" and...

"We Decided It Was Wrong For A Christian To Kill"

During World War Two, John registered as a Conscientious Objector on religious grounds and worked as a coal...

“I Wanted to Join the Navy but I Ended Up in the Army”

Before I was called up to the army, I worked for John Laing at Sellafield for a short while in 1942. The...