Rebuilding the East End during the Blitz

Very little seems to have been written about the gallant men (and women) sent to London to assist with the repair and reinstatement of houses during the blitz and assault of the V1 and V2 rockets. My father was one of these unsung heroes, and below are some of my recollections and notes from his diaries.

When WW2 started in 1939 I was 19 months old. My Dad, Stan Livingston, was working as a joiner at Parkside Hospital, Macclesfield. Initially, at the age of 35, he was called up for the RAF , although I cannot remember ever seeing him in uniform. I do remember, however, probably in late 1943, he was seconded from the RAF, possibly at the Ministry of Works' request, to help build new airfields in Lincoln, mainly Sleaford and Faldingworth, for the Lancaster bombers to use. He told me of the tragedy of many of these bombers returning from a bombing raid on a wing and a prayer. Some would be so badly shot up they just managed to get to the airfield where they crashed on landing and burst into flames.

As he was a successful racing cyclist he had taken his bike with him and used much of his spare time on training spins around the Lincolnshire roads. Eventually, work on the Faldingworth airfield came to an end and on the 15th September 1944 Dad had a much deserved 9 days leave. However, I think the V1 and V2 rockets were now starting to target London so on completion of his leave he was told to report for duty in London and so on the 25th September 1944 he caught the train to Euston and on the 26th started work in Manor Park, East Ham.

I cannot recall the name of the contractors he worked for but I believe it was an Irish company. He was billeted in Onslow Square and became very friendly with the family of one of the young workers under his supervision. I think they were called Cooper and lived at 49 St Winifred's Road, Manor Park, E12. I actually met them when my mother and I went down to London to visit my Dad and we stayed with them.

My Dad told me lots of anecdotes about his time in London. Typically, he and his workmates would go to the very badly bomb damaged East End to help families go back to live in their houses as soon as possible. If the damage was limited to blown out doors and windows the work would usually be completed the same day enabling a very grateful family to have a habitable house for the night. Unfortunately, on many occasions my Dad would return next morning to find another "doodle bug" had again blown out the same doors and windows. So the work had to be repeated.

During his time in London he did manage some recreational time, usually going to the local cinemas. The Gaumont, Chelsea, the Forum in Fulham Road, and the Regal in Marble Arch were some he visited and a diary entry in 1944 reads "went to Victoria Palace to see Lupino Lane in Meet Me Victoria". He said that people generally seemed relaxed about going out and socialising. He had taken his bike to London, joined the Norwood Paragon cycling club and made many good friends.

He also managed a few weekends home and I can clearly remember on one of these visits the rockets came over Macclesfield. They were apparently heading for Manchester and Dad said "they must have followed me home!"

On the 22nd January 1946 his services in this important work came to a close. On the 23rd he caught the 10.15am train back from Euston to Macclesfield and on the 24th he reported to the Labour Exchange for permission to return to his old job at Parkside Hospital. The end of his contribution to the War.

Incidentally, every November Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph I look to see if there are any representatives for these hardworking men and women-but nothing-so it is good to know that all these memories are being archived for future generations.

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