D-Day Implications Locally Alan Payne June 2018
Actual photo of the landing at Omaha called Into the Jaws of Death by Robert F Sargent (courtesy Wikimedia)
D-Day on 6 June 1944 was obviously a major turning point in the war but it made little impact in Box. We know that Box servicemen were involved in the landing operation and you can read the story of Dennis Dancey elsewhere on the website.
But there was little reported in the local newspapers and no reference to it in the Parish Magazine.
Circumstances in 1944
By 1944 the war was beginning to turn in favour of the Allies. In the east Russia launched a massive counter-attack known as Operation Bagration on 22 June 1944 against the German Army Group Centre resulting in the death or capture of 400,000 German soldiers at the cost of nearly double that number of Russian men killed or wounded. Russia's Great Patriotic War still remains the largest single military conflict in history. The war in Italy began to make progress when the German defensive line at Monte Cassino was eventually broken in May 1944 albeit at a terrible cost. Chinese forces reopened the route to Burma against Japan in September 1944 and American troops defeated them in the so-called Battle of the Philippine Sea in June.
For Box residents the imminent threat of the invasion of the village was over. Fireguards stood down in September 1944 in the west as the war was perceived to have moved overseas. Above all else, people were exhausted by the war, rationing and limitations on lifestyles during the blackouts. Rev Arthur Maltin wanted to move people's interest away from military words of comfort and consolation so, instead of giving a sermon in February, he arranged a religious brains trust.[1]
But there was little reported in the local newspapers and no reference to it in the Parish Magazine.
Circumstances in 1944
By 1944 the war was beginning to turn in favour of the Allies. In the east Russia launched a massive counter-attack known as Operation Bagration on 22 June 1944 against the German Army Group Centre resulting in the death or capture of 400,000 German soldiers at the cost of nearly double that number of Russian men killed or wounded. Russia's Great Patriotic War still remains the largest single military conflict in history. The war in Italy began to make progress when the German defensive line at Monte Cassino was eventually broken in May 1944 albeit at a terrible cost. Chinese forces reopened the route to Burma against Japan in September 1944 and American troops defeated them in the so-called Battle of the Philippine Sea in June.
For Box residents the imminent threat of the invasion of the village was over. Fireguards stood down in September 1944 in the west as the war was perceived to have moved overseas. Above all else, people were exhausted by the war, rationing and limitations on lifestyles during the blackouts. Rev Arthur Maltin wanted to move people's interest away from military words of comfort and consolation so, instead of giving a sermon in February, he arranged a religious brains trust.[1]
Newspaper Reports
People simply wanted to get back to a normal life and (mistakenly) believed that it would all be over soon. The press did their bit to focus on good news and weddings seemed a good option. When May Butler of Iona, Kingsdown, married Len Angell in June, the newspaper report struggled to pad out the details, resorting to her attire of a crystal necklace loaned by a friend and a fancy straw, poke bonnet tied with a pink ribbon worn by bridesmaid, Margaret Butt.[2] Marriages involving military personnel carried additional coverage. The wedding of Herbert James Hunt, Wadswick, Lance Corporal in the Box Home Guard and Grace Doreen Pinnock, 18 Fairmead View, had a guard of honour of No1 Platoon.[3]
Resorting back to earlier, happier times seemed a good solution and in June 1944 the Wiltshire Times ignored the war to run a story about the medicinal qualities of local spring water including Frogs' Well in the centre of Box (the slip road from the Chequers up to the A4) and a well at Shockerwick known as St Anthony's Well.[4] A competition was held in Box to find the oldest resident in June. The honour went to Henry (Curly) Phelps of 1 Roman Villas, aged 90 years.[5] He had attended the Charity School in Box Workhouse (now Springfield House) until the age of 9, worked underground in charge of the horses and became a stone chopper from the age of 15 until he was 78 years old.
People simply wanted to get back to a normal life and (mistakenly) believed that it would all be over soon. The press did their bit to focus on good news and weddings seemed a good option. When May Butler of Iona, Kingsdown, married Len Angell in June, the newspaper report struggled to pad out the details, resorting to her attire of a crystal necklace loaned by a friend and a fancy straw, poke bonnet tied with a pink ribbon worn by bridesmaid, Margaret Butt.[2] Marriages involving military personnel carried additional coverage. The wedding of Herbert James Hunt, Wadswick, Lance Corporal in the Box Home Guard and Grace Doreen Pinnock, 18 Fairmead View, had a guard of honour of No1 Platoon.[3]
Resorting back to earlier, happier times seemed a good solution and in June 1944 the Wiltshire Times ignored the war to run a story about the medicinal qualities of local spring water including Frogs' Well in the centre of Box (the slip road from the Chequers up to the A4) and a well at Shockerwick known as St Anthony's Well.[4] A competition was held in Box to find the oldest resident in June. The honour went to Henry (Curly) Phelps of 1 Roman Villas, aged 90 years.[5] He had attended the Charity School in Box Workhouse (now Springfield House) until the age of 9, worked underground in charge of the horses and became a stone chopper from the age of 15 until he was 78 years old.
Village Furore
Issues in Box started to focus on local matters rather than the threat of invasion. An application to move footpaths by GJ Kidston of Hazelbury Manor caused consternation to the Parish Council in January 1944.[6] In March 1944 residents became pre-occupied with the changes especially when Mr Kidston submitted a map of his estate to the Rural District Council omitting to show public footpaths on the land.[7] The residents instructed the Parish Council to do everything within its power to preserve certain rights of way and footpaths across the Hazelbury Estate. The dispute became heated, Mr Kidston attempted to prevent people from using the paths and Box Parish Council referred the matter to the Footpaths Preservation Society. Box Council was split because GJ Kidston had done so much for village community spirit in the 1920s and 1930s. Councillor Cecil Lambert accused chairman John Brooke of having given up the ghost about this matter - he agreed. It was decided to take the matter to the High Court, notwithstanding the cost that this would incur.
Councillor Bill Chaffey did further research on the matter and believed that a High Court case would be successful and asked
Rev Maltin and Mr A Shaw-Mellor to serve on a sub-committee.[8] They declined as did chairman John Brooke who had taken offence at remarks in the previous meeting and a sub-committee was formed comprising other councillors. The matter was eventually resolved when common sense prevailed and the issue was discussed directly with Mr Kidston.[9] John Brooke resigned as chairman of the Parish Council citing his wife's ill-health and was replaced by Charles WB Oatley.
Issues in Box started to focus on local matters rather than the threat of invasion. An application to move footpaths by GJ Kidston of Hazelbury Manor caused consternation to the Parish Council in January 1944.[6] In March 1944 residents became pre-occupied with the changes especially when Mr Kidston submitted a map of his estate to the Rural District Council omitting to show public footpaths on the land.[7] The residents instructed the Parish Council to do everything within its power to preserve certain rights of way and footpaths across the Hazelbury Estate. The dispute became heated, Mr Kidston attempted to prevent people from using the paths and Box Parish Council referred the matter to the Footpaths Preservation Society. Box Council was split because GJ Kidston had done so much for village community spirit in the 1920s and 1930s. Councillor Cecil Lambert accused chairman John Brooke of having given up the ghost about this matter - he agreed. It was decided to take the matter to the High Court, notwithstanding the cost that this would incur.
Councillor Bill Chaffey did further research on the matter and believed that a High Court case would be successful and asked
Rev Maltin and Mr A Shaw-Mellor to serve on a sub-committee.[8] They declined as did chairman John Brooke who had taken offence at remarks in the previous meeting and a sub-committee was formed comprising other councillors. The matter was eventually resolved when common sense prevailed and the issue was discussed directly with Mr Kidston.[9] John Brooke resigned as chairman of the Parish Council citing his wife's ill-health and was replaced by Charles WB Oatley.
Attitudes in the Village
The focus on domestic issues makes it clear that residents were weary of the war and wanted to get back to something resembling a normal life. In April 1944 Miss CM Smith, the teacher who had accompanied the evacuee children from London in 1939, was transferred to Malmesbury School, which had greater need of her services.[a] Attempts were made to start a Forces Fund in Box to provide Box boys in the Forces with parcels but the response had been discouraging.[10] The vicar agreed to use his powers of persuasion. There was no reluctance to make non-financial contributions of blood for the war effort when the Blood Transfusion Service came to Box in July; one donor was 82 year-old Mr Betteridge of Kingsdown.[11]
By November 1944 the Box Womens Institute had raised an amazing £20,069.13s in Savings Certificates but economic harship had meant that there was little money left in people's pockets.[12] This was not just the reaction in Box and local newspapers make it clear that many areas were suffering similarly.
The focus on domestic issues makes it clear that residents were weary of the war and wanted to get back to something resembling a normal life. In April 1944 Miss CM Smith, the teacher who had accompanied the evacuee children from London in 1939, was transferred to Malmesbury School, which had greater need of her services.[a] Attempts were made to start a Forces Fund in Box to provide Box boys in the Forces with parcels but the response had been discouraging.[10] The vicar agreed to use his powers of persuasion. There was no reluctance to make non-financial contributions of blood for the war effort when the Blood Transfusion Service came to Box in July; one donor was 82 year-old Mr Betteridge of Kingsdown.[11]
By November 1944 the Box Womens Institute had raised an amazing £20,069.13s in Savings Certificates but economic harship had meant that there was little money left in people's pockets.[12] This was not just the reaction in Box and local newspapers make it clear that many areas were suffering similarly.
Vision of Peace
Suddenly, there were plans being made for managing in peacetime. Consideration was given to the need to replace the prefabricated houses in Box - declined by the County Council much to Alec Cogswell's disgust (as he lived in one).[13] The Council had another go at requesting assistance from the County in December but were told that towns and cities which had suffered bombing would be a priority.[14] Better progress was made to improve local housing when the Rural District Council agreed to improve Sewerage and Sewage Disposal - Box; Whole parish and works.[15] The real shift in Box residents' attitude to the war came in November 1944 when the Lighting Committee recommednded that modified lighting be allowed in the district.[16] It was hoped that vehicle crashes would be eliminated but it wasn't to be because three American soldiers were severely injured when their jeep crashed into the Northey Arms and the masonry collapsed.[17]
In June 1944 land sites were purchased to provide police stations for Post-War Use, possibly fearing that there could be civil disorder once the war ended[18] A Welcome Home Fund was started with donations from dances in the Bingham Hall, raffles and tombolas, which had raised £122.5s by November 1944, the object being to make donations to men and women resident in Box on 1 August 1939 who had served in the Forces - or their next of kin - as an appreciation of services rendered.[19] A Peace Celebrations Committee started in 1944 to organise the longed-for celebrations.[20] It wasn't to be for many months.
Suddenly, there were plans being made for managing in peacetime. Consideration was given to the need to replace the prefabricated houses in Box - declined by the County Council much to Alec Cogswell's disgust (as he lived in one).[13] The Council had another go at requesting assistance from the County in December but were told that towns and cities which had suffered bombing would be a priority.[14] Better progress was made to improve local housing when the Rural District Council agreed to improve Sewerage and Sewage Disposal - Box; Whole parish and works.[15] The real shift in Box residents' attitude to the war came in November 1944 when the Lighting Committee recommednded that modified lighting be allowed in the district.[16] It was hoped that vehicle crashes would be eliminated but it wasn't to be because three American soldiers were severely injured when their jeep crashed into the Northey Arms and the masonry collapsed.[17]
In June 1944 land sites were purchased to provide police stations for Post-War Use, possibly fearing that there could be civil disorder once the war ended[18] A Welcome Home Fund was started with donations from dances in the Bingham Hall, raffles and tombolas, which had raised £122.5s by November 1944, the object being to make donations to men and women resident in Box on 1 August 1939 who had served in the Forces - or their next of kin - as an appreciation of services rendered.[19] A Peace Celebrations Committee started in 1944 to organise the longed-for celebrations.[20] It wasn't to be for many months.
References
[1] Western Daily Press and Bristol Mirror, 9 February 1944
[2] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 10 June 1944
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 3 June 1944
[4] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 24 June 1944
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 10 June 1944
[6] The Wiltshire Times, 29 January 1944
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 25 March 1944
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 1 April 1944
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[a] The Wiltshire Times, 1 April 1944
[10] The Wiltshire Times, 1 April 1944
[11] The Wiltshire Times, 8 July 1944
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[13] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[14] The Wiltshire Times, 9 December 1944
[15] The Wiltshire Times, 9 December 1944
[16] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[17] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[18] The Wiltshire Times, 17 June 1944
[19] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[20] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[1] Western Daily Press and Bristol Mirror, 9 February 1944
[2] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 10 June 1944
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 3 June 1944
[4] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 24 June 1944
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 10 June 1944
[6] The Wiltshire Times, 29 January 1944
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 25 March 1944
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 1 April 1944
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[a] The Wiltshire Times, 1 April 1944
[10] The Wiltshire Times, 1 April 1944
[11] The Wiltshire Times, 8 July 1944
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[13] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[14] The Wiltshire Times, 9 December 1944
[15] The Wiltshire Times, 9 December 1944
[16] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[17] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[18] The Wiltshire Times, 17 June 1944
[19] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944
[20] The Wiltshire Times, 11 November 1944