Wakefield at War

<img src=https://i.imgur.com/2bjbzSi.png> </div> (set: $typewriterText to "This German bomber’s map of Wakefield showed enemy pilots where to drop their bombs to destroy things like communications, transport and factories. Things to avoid bombing like hospitals are also marked on there. We’ve added symbols to show where bombs actually did land in Wakefield. Were the German bombers accurate?") (display: "Typewriter") <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/A1vru9n.png> </div> **Note on map symbols** (text-colour:purple)[**Purple**] was used to outline and mark key targets to bomb such as utilities and manufacturing industries (text-colour:red)[**Red**] was used to outline and signify both targets to be avoided like hospitals and institutions (marked with a red cross) and sites to bomb which were a part of the transport network —CONFUSING! Actual bomb sites are marked with a <img src=https://i.imgur.com/85JEGxu.png> [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

<img src=https://i.imgur.com/7eFx12M.png> <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/xGmrGqP.png ALIGN=LEFT /> I’m Edith Currer and I make bombs! Brass shell casings to be precise. There are so few male workers around that young women like me get opportunities to do jobs I never dreamed I could try. The hours are long but I enjoy having my own money and friends at work. My work for the war effort could have been at any of Wakefield’s wartime factories. We make lots here for the war effort including rifle stocks and butts at the Sykes/Slazenger sports factory at Horbury, Torpedo motors at Hyland Engineering On Union Street in Wakefield, Tanks at Charles Roberts Ltd in Horbury Bridge, Bomb cases at Bradley & Craven on Westgate and Joseph Rhodes’ at Belle Vue, and even landing craft at Drake & Warters by the River Calder at Thornes. [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/X3N75D2.png>->Where do I live EC]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Introduction]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

<img src=https://i.imgur.com/9op6FrU.png> <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/uYGJ6fs.png ALIGN=LEFT /> My name is Peter Mayhew, I am 8 years old and I live with my Mum Gladys. My Dad is away being a soldier in the war and I miss him very much. Its hard to get sweets and although I was lucky and got an orange in my stocking last Christmas I have never tried a banana as they are very scarce. My favourite game is cricket, I played a lot with my Dad before he was called up, I don’t often speak of him though as I know it worries my Mum. This week we are going to the cinema in town for free as we have collected lots of rags and old pans to help make more planes for the war effort. [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/E5BV8yr.png>->Where do I live PM]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Introduction]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

<img src=https://i.imgur.com/NclQLPJ.png> <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/EomHe5g.png ALIGN=LEFT /> ‘Ey up young’un. I’m Jim Smales, Mr Smales to you. I’m 65 and was lucky enough to survive the trenches of the Great War 1914-1918, although I’ve struggled with half one leg missing since. It looks like this present conflict is shaping up to be just as bad. The whole world is involved and it breaks my heart to know what those young lads are marching off into this time. I can still hear the noises in my head when I pause to think. Its about as much as I can do now to help by being a fire watcher on my street and expanding my veg plot to feed my family. If we lose the war it will be a terrible life for my children and grandchildren. [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/E5BV8yr.png>->Where do I live JS]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Introduction]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

<img src=https://i.imgur.com/nAyEefq.png> <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/1HOKeYj.png ALIGN=LEFT /> Hello, I’m Lieutenant Tim Sharpe. I’m a recuperating soldier. I was shot in the arm during a battle but the bullet left my arm partly paralysed. I was evacuated from the frontline via a hospital ship and then by train. I’m in a newly built war hospital near Wakefield. I’m not sure I will be able to go back to fighting as I still can’t squeeze a trigger well enough to use a gun. I worry about my comrades, still fighting the war and my future. What job will I do when this is all over if my arm doesn't improve? I still can’t hold a pen properly. [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/E5BV8yr.png>->Where do I live TS]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Introduction]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

I am now living with my Mum, Dad and little brother near Wakefield. We don’t know what has happened to our own house in Guernsey or if we will ever get home, but the people here are friendly and I have a new school and have made friends. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/iVStIY4.png> *Here we are arriving at Westgate Station in Wakefield as evacuees.* [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/zKwuJz9.png>->Map MF]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Margaret Fleurie]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

**D4** I live on Peterson Road near Kirkgate railway station. Me and my brother love to go and watch the trains coming and going. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/A1vru9n.png> </div> [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Where do I live MF]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

During the day my policeman’s beat is the Flanshaw area, but in the evenings I have to check that people are observing the blackout and that no lights are showing from buildings that could guide enemy airplanes. During Air Raids I have to be above ground checking that all is well. We had quite a rash of both explosive bombs and incendiary (fire) bombs falling on our city. I am sent to guard and help to clear the bomb sites like the ones that fell on Belle Vue, Busy Corner, Manygates and Lupset in 1940. The worst so far was at Thornes in 1941. My police colleagues tell me there have also been bombs in Wrenthorpe, Castleford, Pontefract and Ossett to deal with. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/fdPxRpA.png> *Here I am helping clean up the mess at 27 Norton Street, Bellevue after the air raid on 28th August 1940. Luckily the homeowners were in Blackpool at the time.* [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/zKwuJz9.png>->Map WP]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->William Pratt]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

**E4** Tonight I will be on duty in Thornes, guarding a Fuel depot against thieves. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/A1vru9n.png> </div> [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Where do I live WP]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

I work at E. Green & Sons where I weld and polish brass shell casings in the machine shop. Its heavy work, but nothing a bright, strong, local lass like me can’t do! <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/D30l19M.png> *Here is my friend Polly riveting hand guards for rifles at the Slazenger factory in Horbury * [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/zKwuJz9.png>->Map EC]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Edith Currer]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

**E5** Our factory is on Calder Vale Road. It was opened by the King in 1912. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/A1vru9n.png> </div> [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Where do I live EC]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

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We live outside the city centre near Thornes Park, I can hear the ducks on the pond opposite my house and I go to school nearby. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/jiOjNyL.png> *Here are me and my friends queuing up on Westgate with our scraps for a free trip to the cinema! * [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/zKwuJz9.png>->Map PM]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Peter Mayhew]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

**F1** My house on Thornes Road is near a lovely open green space in the suburbs, we still have an air raid shelter in our garden though, just in case. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/A1vru9n.png> </div> [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Where do I live PM]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

There isn't enough of anything to go round at the moment, so I’ve got chickens and rabbits in my back garden now as well as all the vegetables on the allotment. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/vBQkOe1.png> *Here we all are stopping for a tea break down on the allotments. * [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/zKwuJz9.png>->Map JS]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Jim Smales]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

**C1** My allotment plot is on Balne Lane North of the prison. There's a good bunch of us older chaps down there digging away. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/A1vru9n.png> </div> [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Where do I live JS]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

I am living at Pinderfields War Hospital, in the rehabilitation ward trying to get my arm working again. I do exercises and occupational therapy like weaving and making toys to build my muscles again. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/DqioxiV.png> *Here I am trying to use a weaving loom to exercise my paralysed arm and fingers. * [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/zKwuJz9.png>->Map TS]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Tim Sharpe]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]

**A4** The hospital is outside the city, surrounded by fields. A hospital was here before the war but they have added many new huts. <style> img{ max-width:100%; max-height:100%; } </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/A1vru9n.png> </div> [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/pp1ZQHJ.png>->Where do I live TS]] [[<img src=https://i.imgur.com/d7DocTx.png>->Introduction]]