Tag: WW2

Don’t tell him Pike!

The Home Guard (initially Local Defence Volunteers) was an armed citizen militia supporting the army during WW2. Operational from 1940 to 1944, the Home Guard had 1.5 million local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, such as those who were too young or too old to join the regular armed forced (regular military service was restricted to those aged 18 to… Continue reading Don’t tell him Pike!

The Rutland of Jutland – WW1 Flying Ace to WW2 traitor

There aren’t many things that connect WW1 Battle of Jutland to The Beatles and Pearl Harbor but if such things float your boat then this post is for you and it is all about a man called Frederick Rutland. Rutland’s 300-page FBI dossier describes an almost James Bond type figure “Square jaw; well poised; highly… Continue reading The Rutland of Jutland – WW1 Flying Ace to WW2 traitor

Nellie Duncan the witch of WW2

Nellie Duncan was born in Callander, near Stirling, in 1897, and as a child claimed the magical ability called “second sight”. She dallied with the supernatural from a young age and upon becoming an unmarried mother at 17, she was disowned by her parents, and found unpleasant work in a jute mill. In 1916 she married… Continue reading Nellie Duncan the witch of WW2

The curse of Tamurlane (Timur the lame) and the disaster that struck Russia.

I’m sure like many others, I watched the events in Russia over the weekend. I had a 20+ year start on most peoples as I’ve despised Putin since almost the day he came to power due to his brutal obliteration of Chechnya. I remember back then being a bit disappointed not just on that but… Continue reading The curse of Tamurlane (Timur the lame) and the disaster that struck Russia.

Happy Birthday to Camden Town Underground Station, one time newest London wonder

Obviously one could write for ages about London Underground, its stations, lines, oddities and many people do. Even I have written more than the odd post 140 London Underground Facts. Today though by chance I noticed it was the birthday of Camden Town Underground Station. Or at least the station as it is in its current… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Camden Town Underground Station, one time newest London wonder

A London street transformed to look like WW2 in The Blitz

A few weeks ago I was giving a Churchill Walking Tour to a family of 8 in London. It was a cold wintery Sunday morning and the streets were largely quiet until towards the end of the tour we came across a filming unit down a side-street near Parliament. There were a few doorways surrounded… Continue reading A London street transformed to look like WW2 in The Blitz

How a dyslexic schoolgirl helped design the Spitfire!

With its graceful curves, elliptical wings and distinctive engine sound, the Spitfireis a British icon. A status solidified since its heroic efforts in the Battle of Britain in 1940. The Spitfire is the most famous fighter aircraft in British aviation history and has a fighting chance at perhaps being the most famous plane in history.  More than any… Continue reading How a dyslexic schoolgirl helped design the Spitfire!

Micky Davies – the little man with the heart of a giant

Michael (Mickey) Victor Davies (sometimes mentioned as Davis) was born in Stepney in East London on the 22nd April, 1910. Sadly as a result of some sort of spinal defect, he only grew to the height of 4 feet 6 inches tall and became affectionately known as “Mickey the Midget”. Despite his small statue Mickey became an… Continue reading Micky Davies – the little man with the heart of a giant

An account of when my house was almost hit by a Nazi rocket in WW2

Over the last week or two I have been reading old magazines of histories and memories of my village, rather similar to some of the ones I write myself. A lady by the name of Mollie Thomas strikes particularly close to home as though in her 80’s, writes about her time growing up here in… Continue reading An account of when my house was almost hit by a Nazi rocket in WW2