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This story was collected at events held in Bullenshaw Day Centre, Hemsworth, West Yorkshire by Val Hickin, Centre Manager and submitted to the People's War site by Christine Wadsworth on behalf of Vera H. The author is fully aware of the terms and conditions of the site and has given permission to add her story.

I started married life in 1940, lived in a cottage on the farm with my husband’s father and mother, but it had no electricity until 1957. We used paraffin lamps to see to milking the cows, by hand at that time. We had to use black cloth to stop any lights showing in all the windows. No TV then only the wireless run at first with a wet battery. We listened to the news and Mr Churchill’s speeches. Rationing became the talking point for all the women on how to stretch the goods to feed and clothe their families. If the butcher had got some rabbits off the ration there would be a queue. Some would be unlucky and would perhaps get a tin of spam, if he had any left. We had to use dried eggs which were not very nice.

We were asked to ‘Dig for Victory’ use the gardens and grow vegetables, it also became necessary to remove the iron railings to go to be used in other ways. We had no oranges or bananas, clothes were handed down to the children as they grew. Nothing was wasted if it could be used in any way.

As the war went on the South of England got a bashing and the children were evacuated from the towns and sent up North to stay with families. Hitler and his croneys invented a ‘flying bomb’, we called them Doodle Bugs. They were unmanned and whined as they flew over, then the motor would stop and they would drop. With dreadful results!

Letters were eagerly read from loved ones in the forces, even though they were late and censored. We would knit and send caps, socks and scarves, I think the Red Cross would take them.

Young girls would soon use their clothing coupons, and stockings became scarce, so cold tea was used to colour their legs and they would draw a black line down the back of the legs for the seam.

Transport was affected as petrol and oil were needed for the war, I remember seeing cars with a bag on top, I think they used gas, but we had to walk or stay around our own area.

During the war the only casualty at Wintersett where I then lived, was a cow and some chickens. When an enemy plane jettisoned its load of bombs, whilst being chased by some fighters. I believe the enemy had been trying for Sheffield.

There was a searchlight battery down the lane leading to the Boat House near the reservoir. There was also a ‘Fido’ there, this was a lot of oil drums in a field, these were lit to attract enemy bombers away from the towns.

We had prisoners of war working on the farm at Santingley Grange, they would come in army trucks and were took back again at the end of the day.

Does anyone remember a land mine dropping and exploding at Nostell pit stack and showering the area with ash.

The farmers at Wintersett during the war years were:-

The Angler’s Arms Pub — Farm was “Fishers”, Wintersett Farm — “Moorhouse”, Pear Tree Farm — “Hancock”, opposite the pub was “Charlesworth”. Stoneleigh Farm “Elsley” who was a butcher. Santingley Grange Farm — “Harley”.

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