91�ȱ�

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Deb Roach of the CSV Action Desk with 91�ȱ� Hereford and Worcester on behalf of Percy Boulcott and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

When the war broke out in 1939 we were in the farm sheds pairing sheep’s feet. My mother ran out to say that War had been declared my father threw down the clippers and said ““That’s done it we have not recovered from the First WW yet” that stayed with me, it was utter despair for him

In 1939 all the work was done with teams of horses 2 horses on a single plough — 3 horses ploughing up the hops by 1940 the government could buy from America, agriculture equipment on lease lend — Govt did not pay for them but the farmer paid £99 a tractor on iron wheels (spaid lugs) Horses very quickly disappeared from the Countryside.

The Govt made it compulsory for every farmer to grow Potatoes or similar these were harvested by the first Italian prisoners of war and later harvested by the Ukrainians

Everything was rationed, farmers lived mainly on rabbits and home killed pigs, tobacco was very scarce and locals grew their own in the garden and dried it on the bacon rack then put brandy on it and put leaves on home made presses to dry

91�ȱ� made Cheese and butter was made on the farm, petrol was rationed but could be bought 2 gallon drum for 2 shillings which drove the Bull dog engines bought from America to chop mangles which went for cattle feed these mangles used to be weeded by Land Army girls — the land Army girls used to stack corn which was cut by Binders and cut into sheaves and the girls put it in 6’s and left in field to dry, they also used to drive the tractor and binder. Towards end of War the first Combine Harvesters appeared the first one I saw was at Grendon Court, Winslow

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