St Swithin’s as Emily reminded me in her letter this morning and we have had heavy showers all day. Hope the old saying that if it rains on S.S it rains 40 days more or less won’t be right this year, the rain this week is doing immense good but hope it turns fine now as there is a lot of hay to gather yet. Em says her sweet peas are in full bloom. Mine are late, not one out yet. It has been so close today between showers, just the damp humid weather that disagrees with me, I am very puffed up.

I washed the clothes from the Wakelams beds yesterday 4 sheets 3 PCs [pillow cases] 2 BCs [bolster cases] 2 underblankets and 2 counterpanes and a towel. There is still the table cloth and toilet covers to wash, not much profit out of 15/0. Our own counterpanes and toilet cover last 3 months and these are not so soiled. Mrs Adams is coming again for a week or 10 days, she has received her calling up papers so says the war will soon be over now. She registered in May whilst she was here before. She is 22 on Sunday.

Ron went to Yeadon on Fri night for Sat and had a nice time. He says they had chicken and green peas in camp on Sunday. Thinks they must have bombed a chicken farm! They had had strawberries on the Sat whilst he was away. We had strawbs, and I opened my last but one tin of cream on Sun, 1s 2d lb from Sharps. We had our own peas and potatoes but pots very small.

Went to Sk[egness] yesterday afternoon. Father wanted car licence and petrol. I got a nice pinafore at M and S [Marks and Spencer] for 2/6 and 3 coupons, longer. I filled in my 3 ration books this morning, it took me 1 hour and they are supposed to be simpler this time. To most people they are a complicated muddle as they are not filled in according to their own instructions but to others published on radio and the papers, just as if everyone took papers and I am sure very few would get the correct instructions from “listening in”.

So we have made a “pact” with Red Russia, let’s hope we are not as badly “burned as scalded”. The K.S.L.I.s seem to think the war will soon be over. Poor boys, I hope it will. Oh dear I am gloomy tonight. It is a depressing evening, dull and steamy. Rene came for dinner and did a little baking. I had made myself a gooseberry pie with G.Bs the [Army] cook next door gave me with some cabbages. I gave him a 2lb jar of Black-B[erry] jam. He tucked it under his bag, I bet only a favoured few would get a taste.

Grace brought me a small hen tonight 2/0 said they had more meat than they could get thro! I was very pleased. Sent H[arriet] some young carrots, she likes them so, and told Grace she (H) could have Bimbo (tame rabbit) as Father does not fancy eating him, at least he doesn’t want to kill him. Must be going to rain again as it is getting darker tho’ only just after 10 o’ c. Think I will soon go to bed. Have just finished reading “And Pleasant his Wife” by S.C. Nethersole. A very pleasing book.

The Lees were here Sat. Rosemary on draft leave. Billy Lees has a commission. Joan gone into Boots since her shop was bombed. John Kirk home on leave. “Lights out” just sounding on K.S.L.I.’s bugle.

Mr Arthur Sharpe (spelling corrected), a greengrocer, with a market-garden in Hogsthorpe (across fields west of Harness’s Wigg Lane farmhouse), called on rounds with horse and dray. One of his sons, Ray, was a member of the Home Guard.

KSLI – King’s Shropshire Light Infantry – were locally nicknamed King’s Silly Little Idiots. Frank Adams and colleagues were members.

Rosemary and Joan, sisters of Billy, were daughters of Mr and Mrs Len Lees. The family, former holiday visitors, had been mentioned earlier (see 16 Dec. 1940).

 

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A cold damp day with a thin mist and occasional cold shower. A great change after yesterday’s lovely Spring sunshine. Rene came home for a few minutes and had a cup of tea and piece of bun. She had 8 teeth out on Tuesday and her face has been very swollen. Is much better today. Shall be pleased when she has had all of them out. I went to Sk. with her and we saw where the Roman Bank road had been bombed on Monday. No-one was hurt except very minor cuts and bruises. Business was going on as usual and as we did not go in by that road I did not know about it until we were in the bus’ ready for home.

Ron sent me a little cross for a pendant and bought me a R.A.F. badge. Blue enamel and silver mounted on mother of pearl. Very nice indeed. He was home for a few hours on Wednesday but went back in time to catch the 5.30 train to G[rims]by. It is not always safe to risk the 8.20 in case the London train is late. He is looking very fit and a little fatter I think. He brought his washing home again. I did it yesterday. I cleaned the top part of the kitchen cupboard too and then as there were so many planes and explosions we did not go to bed until 12 (Jean and I). Father was on watch. So I feel very tired tonight. Have had no planes so far tonight and as there is no wind it is very quiet.

I made some hot cross buns, sent Jessie and grandma one. Rene took two and I buttered or rather marged 6 and cut them in halves and Father took them to the R.A. at Red Tiles. They returned the plate with “Thanks from the boys, they were very nice.” Made them from my old “Home Chat” recipe which I have had since the last war, but had no currants so put sultanas in instead. Eva came last night for recipe for Mrs. D[andison] as she had lost it. Raymond came too, he has been on 7 days leave. He expects to go to Ireland via Scotland not the Scottish Highlands. Gordon must have got it mixed. He is blond with a ginger moustache. Like the rest of the boys he can talk. Poor boys, I should think they can’t get anyone to listen while they are away and naturally we are interested so they talk and talk. He was at Boston the day Ron was home so missed him. It is nice to see them all. The Colonel’s daughter was not badly hurt.

I must get Jean to fasten “Corbie” gate to-morrow. I hate to hear it bang, bang banging in the wind. 8 bombs fell at Huttoft Bank about 4.20 am Thursday, no casualties, several fell in the sea. Father was on watch, he says they saw the 8 flashes before they heard the first bomb. I sent Aunt Jet, the Russells and Ron an Easter card yesterday, Father went to Gby yesterday.

We had beef pie on Wednesday as I did not want to give Ron stew, resurrected beef but good. Yesterday Jean and I had bacon, eggs, and fried potato. Today I opened a tin of beef stew with veg 1s 4½d, not bad but nothing special. Rene wasn’t here but there would have been enough for her tho’ the meat was not plentiful. I did brussels and potatoes to have with it. It is nothing like as good value as the “Casserole” beef steak at 1/9. Father killed a young tame black rabbit today so we shall have it tomorrow or Sun. My ration (mutton) this week is exactly 3/0, don’t know how it is going to last until next Saturday. Of course we have bacon but don’t want to use it too quickly and tinned stuff soon palls. Still we are not short of food so far.

It is 10 o’ clock and all is quiet so think I will put the kettle on for bottles and go to bed soon. Can hear the bugle 10 pm, think lights out is at 10.30.

Jessie Simpson, the wife of May’s brother, Frank (see 11 Dec. 1940), was meant here.
‘Red Tiles’ was the nearby house, used as a billet (at that time by Royal Artillery), on Anderby Road, past ‘Corbie’ towards ‘The Point’. (See Village map.)
Eva Harness (see 26 Dec. 1940) was meant here.
Mrs Dandison (widow of Fred who had been a farmer), who employed Eva Harness, was meant here. (See 6 Mar. 1941.) She was the leader of the Girls’ Life Brigade.
Gordon Hill, nephew, was a younger brother of Raymond (see 16 Dec. 1940).
The Russell family comprised Ron’s girlfriend Emmie and her parents Mr James (Jim) Russell and Mrs Emily Russell, in Yeadon near Leeds.
“Casserole” brand stewed steak, imported from Eire, was specifically mentioned in Parliament in May 1941, in relation to a planned Maximum Price Order for imported canned meats.

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More than a fortnight since I wrote up my diary. Still no money from Vine tho’ one or two letters have passed. We are writing no more, shall leave it in other hands now. He evidently does not mean to pay. Two nights a German plane has machine gunned near the Point again. Sat 22^nd at dusk was the last time, am thankful we had “blacked out”. Father was on duty, as soon as the plane passed I ran out to see if the lookout was safe. A bullet went through Andrews’, Miss Gardiner’s house was hit too, the one the troops have. Colleen Pimperton age 11 came in with Jean after Sunday School yesterday. We asked if their house was hit (just near the Point) and she said “No but the next house let to soldiers was, a bullet went through the window and on to a chair or bed.” Then she added in a cool and blasé voice “no casualties, soldiers just going on guard” as if it was all in the day’s work and she was rather bored with it. We think the same plane was brought down a little later north of us.

Miss Norah Gardiner and her sister Fanny, daughters of Professor Gardiner, lived opposite Andrews’ coastguard house in Landseer Avenue. Norah ran a private school there and two other sisters, Kate and Victoria, taught elsewhere.
Colleen Pimperton was the daughter of Wilf (see 12^th Jan 1941).

# RON MOVED TO LOCAL AIR BASE – RAF BINBROOK
# DUMMY ‘DROME – WOODEN BOMBS DROPPED?

Ron has been home on 7 days leave, he is at Binbrook now. He passed his test and was highly delighted. He gets 28/6 a week now and attends to the instruments of two Wellington bombers now. We got his letter Wed 12^th to say he was coming on Thursday. Just 4 months after going away. What a long 4 months and a short 7 days. Emmie came on Friday. Ron is very fit and well and has changed very little except that he is livelier and more self confident I think. He has lost much of his shyness. Lovely weather all the week. It was a fortunate week for him as Ralph, Malcolm and John Kirk were all on leave. John Smith too but he was staying with Peggy at Croft and came over on the day Ron went to Trusthorpe. He had tea and stayed a while hoping to see him but they missed the 5.30 bus back and J had to be back before lighting up time. John Smith and Malcolm are still shy. John is at present blowing up orchards at Wisbech. He tells various yarns but vowed this was true. Near his camp is a “dummy ‘drome”. This is quite feasible but he declares that a Ger. bomber flew over it and dropped wooden bombs then flew off and bombed the real ‘drome with live ones! And they say Gers. have no sense of humour. He is hoping to get in the R.A.F. He is a great hefty chap 5ft 11” now.

Malcolm Robinson as well as Ralph Faulkner (see 16^th Dec 1940) and John Kirk (see 11^th Dec 1940) were friends of Ron, about his age.
John Smith was a village friend of Ron. Peggy was John’s sister in Croft, a nearby village. They were the elder siblings of the twin girls who lived with their mother (see 26^th Jan 1941).
Ron would have been visiting ‘Crossing Farm’ at Trusthorpe to see his mother’s cousin, whom he knew as ‘Aunt Amy’, and family (see 9^th Dec 1940).

Ron is still stiff and not very tall but very smart, his buttons were as smooth as glass. Emmie went home 12.20 Thurs and Father, Jean and I went in the car to take Ron to Binbrook. We went early not knowing the way, took the wrong turn twice as no signposts and houses miles apart. Still we did it in 1½ hours in spite of big hills. The ‘drome is on top of a hill about a mile out of Binbrook. On entering the village the furthest end from the camp we had to drive through a brook. It was much swollen by the rain and ran rather deeply over the road which was in a dreadful state, all granite stones and big holes. Jean said it hadn’t Bin-a-brook it was one. We left him at the entrance to ‘drome. When we set off back I felt as if I still stood beside him and watched myself and car go down the hill. But I was in the car and he was standing there alone. However he was quite cheerful and we had a letter to-day to say his room mates had made up his bed for him which he thought was very nice of them. He gave one or two of them some cakes, he took some back with him of course. He seemed to have settled down alright and is now looking forward to another leave. He hopes he will get on guard this week and get a day off after it. It was good to have him home and to find he was still the same boy as ever, not at all grown up but well able to hold his own in his new life.

# FALSE TEETH FOR RENE
# MAY REACHES FIFTY

Have been to Skegness today. Father took us in the car. Rene is having her teeth out. Mr M[oulton] says they must all come out. Poor Rene, I wonder if she will feel like I did when I had all mine out. I was older than her too but I nearly wept at my empty mouth and felt “the glory had departed”. Well I hope they will be as satisfactory as mine have been. I went because I had broken a front tooth off my top plate and had to leave it until Weds to get a satisfactory job made of it. 7/6 which I paid so he has teeth and money too. Let’s hope they don’t get bombed. Rene is getting hers through insurance so has to wait for papers before he starts on them. It was bitterly cold in Sk. and there were hundreds of RAF’s about.

On the 14^th I stepped on to the bridge which parts the right side of 50 from the wrong side. For a year I can stay on it then the way will be down hill however gradual the slope. Had a nice letter from Edie and the usual P.O. [postal order]. They are in fresh rooms but still in Harrowgate. Got the silk for Jean’s blouse from Rene and bought enough for Rene one for her birthday.

It is 10 o’clock and as all seems quiet, think Jean and I will soon retire. Father said if we hear “wuffers” we had better stay up as it is safer downstairs. Jean’s bedroom especially seems very open to machine gun bullets. The window is so near the bed and Ron’s room is worse so it is no use putting her there. It came on to cold rain this afternoon, hope it’s fine tomorrow as I have a big wash this week. I have an anemone bud.

Mr Moulton, with practice in Skegness, the family dentist, was also a school dentist.
‘Harrowgate’ refers to Harrogate, Yorkshire, where May’s stepmother Edie was living.

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Tin hats no longer hang in a row at the W. Bx and Father has room to hang up his coat. Mond. was wet early so I did not wash. Just before 12 o’c. Rene came in and we heard a plane. Before she got her things off we heard machine guns and of course went out. It was in Roy. Art direction, was there in fact, then the plane came back right around the village firing his guns and cannons. We ran in as, tho’ we could not see it, we heard it coming. Bullets hit J Kirk’s Wash H[ouse] window and broke tiles in his barn roof. I saw a silver shower of bullets, some aflame, coming in the field, only just over the garden fence. Thought it time to leave the window then. It would have been too late, I am thinking, if they were going to hit us. Were going into the pantry, at least Rene had to drag me there, then we heard it over the hills and I ran to look if he was gunning the W Bx. I could not think whether Father was there or not. It was alright and Father was at home, he left the garage and went in building of Ashley’s close to house wall as garage was no protection. We saw the plane just going over the Point and Cookie and another R.A. [Royal Artillery soldier] coming down the Sand-Hills holding their hats on. M.Gs kept on then we heard the bombs go. It gave us an awful feeling. 3 were dropped on R. Art., one direct hit on Windsor House the rest on beach. One or two were killed and there were some injured but they were mostly in shelters as the machine gunning had given them time to take cover. Evidently the wind was nearly south as neither Jean at school or Mr A. heard the bombs heavy as they were.

12 P.M.
After raining all the morning great blobs of snow are falling now, perhaps it will bring the cold down. Rene just been, she is helping at the W.V.S canteen 12 to 3. Yesterday she baked for them, it doesn’t help my coal-heap much. Father gone egg-collecting, has to be on Wat. at 2 o’clock. Heavy thuds like bombs or gunfire. Am still jumpy. We think Corbie was struck by m.g. bullets, the wall is newly chipped.

Ashleys owned two houses, ‘Jesmond’ and ‘Perlthorpe’, used as billets, in Anderby Road (see village map). Will kept his car in a rented asbestos garage at the back of one, reached via a space between them.
‘Windsor House’ was Butlins’ name for one of their holiday camp buildings which became part of ‘HMS Royal Arthur’.
Egg-collecting was for Grandma’s business – eggs to be taken to Grimsby market on the Friday. (See 6 Dec. 1940)

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Have neglected my diary lately, last week I was knitting gloves for the W.V.S., have the fingers of one to finish. They say they want a lot, but I think it’s too late to be starting gloves now, they won’t want them much longer except on night guard. Ron has not been this week-end, the train service is so bad. I am pleased he did not, just for a few hours. I think it would have unsettled him and us too.

Father has gone on the box for an hour to let Mr Hallgarth help get his pigs off. 2 of those Father got for him at Alford, his have done fairly well considering food! We have coupons for pigs now, they allow 112 lbs per pig for 3 months, what idiots they are. We shall use up what they will eat (if we can get it) then sell the pig, I think G.ma may have it if we can wangle it, there is so much “red tape”. We shall all develop “wangling” minds if the war keeps on. When I last wrote in here Mr Bailey was struggling on with cold and asthma, he has carried on until a week ago, then could not come and now has developed pneumonia. I am so sorry, he is a bad subject, tho’ the new treatment has taken away the former horrors to a large extent. E got “pig cheer” the day after posting, so pleased it wasn’t long going. Ron’s was a little longer and some mince-pies broken in spite of tin. He was very pleased esp. with Pork Pie. Emmie has told him, Jean and I are to go there in case we are moved thro’ invasion. It is very kind of them. I hope we meet her people under happier circumstances.

It rains fast again this morning, shan’t wash unless it clears quickly. No more snow thank goodness, tho’ when we went to Alford Tue it was lurking under hedge-bottoms and shady bushes. Waiting for more we always say, but sincerely hope not. We have had one or two nice days, Sat it turned beautiful and sunny after a wet start, and the birds are beginning to sing. Chris took “Susan” to Rene on Friday after she had been at large a week. He caught her near the “Ideal Bung”. Expect dogs would not worry her as she was not afraid of them and would not run away. The soldiers’ fierce Alsatian set a land-mine off in the Marsh last week. His end was “pieces”, and very few mourners, he was a nuisance as he worried other people’s dogs.

‘Getting the pig off’ probably meant the same as ‘Getting the pig out of the way’ (See 31 Jan. 1941 )
Chris, one of Will’s nephews, was Peter’s younger brother. (See 5 Jan. 1941)
The ‘Ideal Bungalow’ was on Sea Bank Road almost opposite Coastguard Cottages, a little further from the village centre.
‘The Marsh’ was an area, north of ‘Lenton Lodge’, between Anderby Road and the seashore, extending from near the bungalow ‘Sandy Hollow’ to Anderby Creek (see village map).

# SKEGNESS CHURCH BOMBED AND VILLAGE GUNNED

We have had more air activity lately. Bombs were dropped in Algitha Rd Sk. on Sat night, have heard it damaged Chapel. Last night as Jean and I sat by the fire a plane went by and immediately after 2 or 3 bombs shook the house. They dropped between Huttoft and Sutton. On Sunday morning (16^th) a plane machine gun was fired near us. Father had just got in from watch at 2 a.m. and Hallgarth had just got beyond Hall’s. He said it came between Kirk’s and us, and then between Hall’s and Point circled round and past Hall’s to Kirk’s gate, then back over the Point to sea, it was very low and had to rise to clear Point. Father asked if bullets were near him. He said “No, not near, about 10 ft away!” He lay flat on the ground, his tin hat was hanging in the W. box! Halg. says the plane had all its lights on and he is convinced in was a Blenheim manned by Jerrys.

The Methodist Church (or ‘Chapel’) in Algitha Road, Skegness, was severely damaged by one bomb and two large semi-detached houses in the same road rendered unsafe by two other bombs at around 2 a.m. on Sunday February 16th 1941. (See ‘Skegness at War’, Marjorie C Wilkinson, Cupit Press, Horncastle 2007, p 11.)
Huttoft was about 5 miles north of the village, just beyond Anderby and inland. Sutton-on-Sea was on the coast less than 10 miles north of the village and just before Trusthorpe and Mablethorpe. No further details of the bombs dropped in those locations have been determined. (See East Lincolnshire map.)
The aircraft seen by Mr Hallgarth was probably a German Junkers 88 which spotters found notoriously difficult to distinguish from a British Blenheim when approaching.

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Paid £3.8.0 rates yesterday and £2.15.0 car licence to-day. Ron sent his Xmas tin back and we had a letter yesterday and to-day. Seems to have settled down nicely. Rene and I posted letters to him yesterday including a long one from Jean. More mutton to-day, Father and Jean like it cold but I don’t. Perhaps I may get to like it. Noticed Libby’s corned mutton in tins on sale at Alford to-day. Wish I had bought a tin, did not fancy it at the time but might be glad of it sometime. Ron says they had corned beef for dinner and bets we can’t get it. We can’t but I have two tins in my little store. No, it’s not a hoard, there isn’t enough. Rene and I did not go to “The Black Cat” to-day, we went to Westcott’s and had fish and chips for 6^D each. It was very good too, if the service and room was not so nice. Afterwards we had tea from the flask we took and a biscuit. The tea was hot and warmed us nicely. The streets were slushy and wet, but it did not rain. Brom. charged us 1/0 each for telling us he had made a good job of our guiders (ligaments I suppose). Rene bought corsets as they are probably going to be scarce. (I have a new pair.) The girl in the shop said it was because of the metal used in their construction not the shortage of material. Even our corset clasps and bones? needed for guns.

Think Father will be tired by the time he is able to rest. He went on the box at 2 a.m. off at 8 am. Then to Alford, then Skeg. with a Naval man and then to Mablethorpe with the Salvage Officer. Mr Graves carried on until 10 p.m. at the box and Father is there until 2 a.m. He has to be at Sk. again in the morning at 9.15 to fetch the N. man back and take him on to Mablethorpe, pick up the Sal. man and take them to Grimsby and Immingham. The S. man jumped out of the boat too soon and got wet, he has a pair of Ron’s socks, hope he returns them. Two tugs got the bombed vessel off to-night, hope they get it safe to Immingham. It has turned very stormy and the wind has come N. or N.E. It keeps raining too. Father was in two minds about getting petrol at Alford, but it was a good thing he did. There were 5 bodies on the “Greyfriars”. The Captain and the rest of the crew have arrived home. Great shortage of meat in Alford during the last week. Mountain the butch. sold fish in his shop two days we heard. Now it is chiefly rabbits and mutton (frozen). Had a parcel from Mrs Den[man] to-day, she says meat short in Nott[ingha]m, rabbits 4/6, chickens 10/0 to 11/6. She sent Jean a good tweed coat that only wants shortening and of course cleaning. It will be very useful, the other things too. Ron says their bread is rationed now only 2 slices a day, don’t know if it’s just temporary. He passed his second test 60%, a lot of them did not get that. I got him razor blades in Alford to-day 2 at one shop 2½^D no more allowed and 7 for 6^D at another, no more at that price when present stock exhausted. Oranges 5½^D lb about 3 or rather less to the lb. Think Jean and I will go to bed when I have filled the [hot water] bottles. She has been asleep a long time. My cold still lingers and I have a tiresome cough.

Westcott’s fish and chip café was in Alford.
Arthur Graves, one of the coastguards, lived in a small cottage, formerly the ‘Pig and Whistle’ public house, near ‘The Point’. His daughter, Violet, was in the Red Cross.
Close to the major fishing port of Grimsby, Immingham was a dock area for other vessels, including Royal Navy warships.
Mr Mountain was a butcher in Alford market place.

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This morning it was almost like spring when I took down the black-out. The sun was shining and my pot of primroses on the window-sill is growing nicely tho’ the blooms are still small. The anemone buds Rene brought me are trying to blossom and may succeed. My anemones are some of them up in the garden so I am hoping for early blooms. Two or three polyanthus are in bloom. The sunshine has passed now but it is a calm and quiet day with occasional showers of light drizzle. A lot of people passing this afternoon, expect they are going to look at the ship which came ashore last night. It ran aground a little beyond the C.G. box round about 9 o’clock last night. (Father and Mr Parish were on watch.) It is the “Greyfriars” and had been badly bombed, two bodies are on board. The rest of the crew had been taken off. It is approx 10 to 11,00 tons. Norman Swift came on Fri night. He is in the Army now, is on sick leave having had tonsillitis. He is as thin as a lath and looked very shaky. He had a cup of milk and egg before going back to Harvey’s. Molly Harvey is working at Butlins now, a W.R.N. I expect. Should have thought she could have been better employed with all those greenhouses (she is trying to let those) and her two children. King Haakon of Norway is reported to be at Butlins, or I should say the “Roy. Arthur” to-day. Mavis came yesterday, she says Frank in much better lodgings this time but has had both eyes inflamed. See Peter Kirk is at home again, think it must cost him a lot from Gainsboro’ unless Rose’s bring him. John [Kirk] is home too on 7 days leave, we hear his divorce is going thro’ now. His marriage has soon come to grief. I have a cold again, I think someone at the C.G. box always has one and Father keeps getting one and I seem to get it from him. I have never had so many colds. My left eye is a little inflamed, do hope I am not having another stye, they seem to get me down. Jean has been to Chapel, she says Rene was there and will be coming after tea. Mr A. is preaching at Algitha Rd so he won’t be coming. Rene had her new hat on Jean says. I wonder if the ‘folk’ will get the “dialect” off as Mr P. calls it. The tide is coming in now, is full about 8 I think or a little before. The meat ration is 1/2 per head this week. Mr T[aylor] may not be round on Tue. Father brought me 1lb of butter this week, not farm. It may be unpatriotic but we haven’t had any for about 5 weeks so I think we have a bit due. I am longing for some good farm butter. I emptied a sugar bag into the basin yesterday and Jean said “Oh, it does look nice to see the sugar basin full”.

‘Bert’ Parish was Will’s coastguard colleague. He was Esther’s father (see 2^nd Jan. 1941)
‘The British steamer “Greyfriars” (1142 gross registered tons) was damaged by German bombing one mile west of 59A Buoy, off Grimsby, Five crew were lost. The steamer drifted ashore near Chapel St Leonards during the night of 11/12th January. It was refloated on the 14th and was towed to Hull.’ (As recorded in Royal Navy Day-by-Day in World War 2 by Don Kindell, Naval Events, January 1941 (Part 1 of 2), see website www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4101-28JAN01.htm)
Norman Swift, who lived in Sunningdale Drive, had run the Ship Inn, near Ship Bridge, and worked for Tom Harvey, grower who owned greenhouses near the church.
Molly Harvey was the wife of the greenhouse owner Tom Harvey, who was probably serving in the forces at that time.
HMS (His Majesty’s Ship) Royal Arthur was a Royal Navy recruit training centre – in fact land-based using the Butlin’s Holiday Camp at Ingoldmells, near Skegness. It was occasionally claimed by the Germans (in radio broadcasts by ‘Lord Haw-Haw’) to have been sunk.
WRN or Wren – member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS).
King Haakon and the government of Norway had become exiled in Britain in June 1940. A fighting force of Norwegians in exile was subsequently established. The King was staying at Ingoldmells. (See ‘Skegness at War’, Marjorie C Wilkinson, Cupit Press, Horncastle 2007, p16.)
‘Royal Arthur’ was sometimes abbreviated to R. Art. It should not be confused with Royal Artillery (usually abbreviated to RA).
Peter Kirk, who joined the Navy, was a son of (coastguard) Joe and the brother of Phoebe (see 6^th Dec. 1940) and John (see 11^th Dec. 1940). John Kirk’s wife was not local to the area.
Rose Brothers, a long-established engineering company in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, was heavily committed to design and production of military equipment for the war effort, notably advanced gun-turrets for bomber aircraft. The Rose family had connections with Chapel St Leonards, having built for themselves, in the late 1920s, a private property ‘Gainsborough House’ on the sandhills overlooking ‘The Grange’.
Algitha Road Methodist Church was in Skegness. Mr A would have been preaching in his capacity as a Methodist ‘local Circuit preacher’.
The unclear word transcribed as ‘folk’ (referring to the church congregation) may have been written in a way to suggest a pronunciation like ‘fook’. The comment on “dialect” probably referred to the fact that Mr A (an educated Londoner) spoke in a way that was not familiar to the entire local congregation.
Wilf Pimperton, another ‘local preacher’, was probably ‘Mr P.’ here. He was a carpenter/joiner and member of the Royal Observer Corps. The family lived close to the sandhills at ‘The Point’.
Jack Taylor was the regular family butcher, whose shop, at that time, was in Hogsthorpe. As lieutenant, he was in charge of the Home Guard which covered Chapel St Leonards.

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