Local Lynx Issue 128 - October/November 2019

asked were more than often replied to with “not for you to
worry about”, or “children are to be seen and not heard”, we
did not really comprehend what was happening. However in
September 1939 and gathered around the radio for the
Special News item that had been forewarned, it was
announced that we were from this moment on at war with
Germany. I doubt many of us had any idea what the full
implications those words had for us were - certainly least of
all myself.
I had but a year to go to school, and already had an after
school job in the West End stores working as errand boy
and general dogsbody. By 1940 food was a very important
issue. Mother trying to bring up a large family always
struggled to find food enough with what they could afford -
no State help for lower the paid in those days. There was
going to be a challenge for all housewives in similar
situations and shortages of what little they could afford. In
our case Father would be bringing home less than three
pounds each week and the things they could afford were
barely enough to keep the wolf from the door as the saying
was. Most villagers had gardens and allotment's to
supplement the larder, these now more than ever would
come into their own.
We all had a number to learn off by heart, "very
important", Father said. Without it he assured us we could
be taken away to prison, as aliens. In addition to the number
each person was issued with a Ration Book from the
Ministry of Food, and a gas mask that came with its own
little cardboard box. Mother made cases for ours and many
other people who on seeing them wanted one. The gas mask
must go wherever we went - not that we ever travelled far. If
I remember rightly, special permission was needed to go
any further than ten miles at the time. My Identity Card
number was TSBB793, and I remember learning all the
numbers to be on the safe side, not difficult as they were all
in rotation.
The material Mother made the gas mask covers from,
was "Barrage Balloon" one that came down in the woods at
Creymere, having broken loose from its moorings during
some military exercise, and was badly torn - I expect it was
of no further use for its purpose. Placards displaying the
words "Have You Got Your Gas Mask" were in evidence
outside Halls and Cinemas. The fear of gas being used was
evident, and we had exercises in using those appliances.
Those who had volunteered for the Home Guard and Fire
Wardens had the military design in its specially adapted
haversack. Very young children had a much larger
contraption that enabled the Mother to put them inside and
bellows to circulate the air operated by hand. There were
pamphlets distributed on how to make an Air Raid Shelter
in the garden, and on how to protect the house from gas
entering - this basically was wet blankets hung over the
doors and windows from inside over a bath of water.
Not forgetting the “Black Out” - after dark all doors and
windows had to be blackened out. There were rolls of black
paper for those luckily enough to find it. The streets were
patrolled by the Wardens ensuring no house emitted any
form of light. any small glimmer would receive a shout
from the Warden “put that light out". Car lights, not that
there were any quantity of them, had to be screened with a
hood that made it virtually impossible to see but a few yards
ahead: also cycles’ lamps had to be covered in the same
manner. Any obstruction one might walk into had to be
painted white.
John Blakeley
VILLAGE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Following the success of last year’s village Christmas
party there will be a similar combined party for the Institute
and the 50:50 Club on Saturday 14 th December
commencing at 7.00pm in the Institute. The 50:50 Club
draw for December will take place at this event. Full details
will be included in Lynx issue 129, on the Institute Notice
Board and with a flyer to be distributed in the village and at
the November 50:50 Club coffee morning.
LANGHAM
Contact: Christina Cooper 01328 830207
christinacooper27@googlemail.com
FRIENDS OF LANGHAM
200 Club Draw Winners
July 2019 £10 August 2019 £10
84 Mrs L Terry 9 Mr S Newman
132 Mr P Allen 112 Ms S Glaister
158 Mr M Schoenmaker 11 Ms R Fairhead
76 Mrs Warwick 170 Mrs C Freeth
38 Mr F Blundell 75 Ms P Wright
20 Julia Thompson 142 Mrs G Pannier
FOL Committee
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