WW2

click Wars for local details of the Boer War, WW1, WW2, & The Cold War

WW2 started 1st September 1939 it ended 2nd July 1945 in Europe and ended May 8th 1945 in Japan

1941 to 1945 during WW2, British Double Summer Time was introduced as an energy saving device effectively putting the UK on the same footing as mainland Europe. This made Britain GMT +1 in winter and GMT + 2 in summer.   This effectively gave more light hours in the day and evening, when work could be done. Things reverted to normal by 1947.

Feb 1940. researched by Rita Probert. On Monday evening Mr Day of Saunderton gave the second of his series on air raid precautions, at the Lacey Green Village Hall.  About a dozen enthusiasts  were present and were well rewarded for their trouble. Mr Day explained how the appearance of gas bombs can be recognised by the ear, the eye and the nose and by special mechanical means, such as chemically prepared boards.   He also, with the greatest precautions, allowed those present to small samples of the various gases like to be used! Next week at the village hall, the third lecture will be delivered upon the use and care of gas respirators. All those attending are requested to bring their respirators with them. Note added by Joan West. "Mr Day was the Station Master at Saunderton Station".

Feb 1940. Researched by Rita Probert. A successful dance was organised recently by Mrs Dell and Mrs Hickman to raise funds for the Red Cross Working Party at Lacey Green & Loosley Row.  After all expenses had been paid, £2-16s (£2.80p) was handed to the treasurer of the fund and was gratefully received.

(click 'Charity Events' for other similar events)

click Charity Events for other fund raising for charity

September 1940 Researched by Rita Probert. Lacey Green may well be congratulated upon the excellent support which the inhabitants of the village gave on Saturday to a fete in aid of a Spitfire Fund, the excellent sum of £40 being raised.  This has been added as a contribution to the Princes Risborough Spitfire Fund. (put 'charity' in Search for other similar events)

AT WIMBLE END

Mrs Austin organised the fete in the grounds of her residence, Wimble End, Church Lane, and received considerable help from her husband, Mr A. St.J. Austin, Mrs Mason, Mrs Agar, Miss Clements (who acted as stall-holders), Doctor Dudley Cooper, Mr F Bennett and Miss V Bennett, who assisted with numerous side shows.   The Reverend J. Steward, Vicar of Lacey Green, declared the fete open.   Lacey Green set an example for

enthusiastic support of the Spitfire Fund effort in villages.   Competition winners included Squadron Leader Wilkins, Mr Green, Mrs Allaway, Mrs Turney, Mrs Mason, Mrs Matteson, Mr Rixon and Mr J Matteson.

click Families with Fallen WW2 for these.

Click Bomber Command for Bomber Command Headquarters and RAF officers houses were built in the woods at the far south of Lacey Green.

Click Air Chief Marshall Arthur Harris, Bomber Command for his life story

Extract from Andrew & Doris Oliver "Appointed by Air Chief Marshall Arthur Harris, 'Bomber Harris', Commander-in -Chief, Bomber Command, Walters Ash, Andrew flew to inspect every wooden aircraft that had crashed in Britain, to check if the timber or glues were at fault. He flew from the grass runway on Stocken Farm, Lacey Green". Click Lacey Green Airfield for details.Also Click 1944 Stocken Farm Airfield for more details and photos.

Click the New Road for details

Click 1945 Standard rationing WW2 for details

Click The Home Guard for details.

Click The Windmill for details of Home Guard lookout duties there

Click Carters Merchants Ltd. for details of the business brought to Church Lane in WW2

Extract from Loosley House " In 1939 to 1945, North Kensington Nursery School was evacuated to Loosley House, home of Arthur & Joyce Waite.

Click Princes Risborough Auxillary Fire Service for local men who fought the 'blitz'

Extract from research by Doug Tilbury on Lacey Green School. "Some 30 children were evacuated to Lacey Green and Loosley Row who attended Lacey Green school.    An extra teacher from London, Miss French, came to assist the teachers".

Click Evacuees regarding children sent here out of London. Also adults who stayed here, with reports from their hosts.

Click 1945 Wartime jobs for schoolboy Gordon for a snapshot of life at that time.

click 1945 V.E.Day. Local Legacies by Joan West

Extract from Harry Church -

In 1939 Harry joined the Air Ministry Staff at Walters Ash, in what was then Bomber Command. As a maintenance engineer he was on 24 hour call throughout most of the war years, and for his services received the B.E.M. (British Empire Medal).

Extract from Stocken Farm with landlord Ernest Smith and tenants Dick & Hilda West -

"Unfortunately, all their flat land was taken for an airfield at Stocken Farm, which was a severe blow. They had to rent land some distance away at Notley Abbey.

Extract from 1944 Stocken Farm Airfield -

"In 1945 a further 21acres was taken from Stocken Farm for the airfield. This time, it included the Sports field, which was being leased from Dick West by the sports Club. The farm had to reduce their breeding ewes and rent more land at Waldridge Farm".

Extract from Stocken Farm with landlord Ernest Smith and tenants Dick & Hilda West -

" RAF officers from Bomber Command and their families were billeted in the house and lasting friendships were formed".

Extract from Jack & Marion Dell -

Jack was called up and spent six years in the army, being trained initially as a muleteer for service in Norway, but the fall of Norway to the Germans ended this phase. He then trained as an artillery spotter, his service including the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp, his unit withdrawn however following a typhus outbreak, after which he was posted to India, where his distinguished army career ended.

Extract from Bill & Phyllis Dell -

"During WW2, Phyllis, still Phyllis Adams and single, worked at Bomber Command, making maps on thin cotton fabric.    Later her mother used this to make the hankies for her lace edgings, once the map pattern had been washed off."

Extract from Emily & Arthur Harvey of Harvey's Stores, Loosley Row -

"During WW2 Emily and her mother Annie still ran the shop.  Arthur had to work in an aircraft factory in Princes Risborough.   He still delivered the groceries after factory hours but the carrier business had to go.  After the war he worked at Bomber Command until he retired in 1973.

Extract from 2000 Memories of Con Baker -

" During WW2 I used to have to help in the foundry blowing the bellows, melting brass, and I had to help carry the crucibles after casting with the iron".

Extract from Joan Biggs -

"During WW2 Joan worked for a company which was taken over to make aeroplane propellers. During the early part of the conflict, her evenings were spent with a friend looking out for enemy parachutes at Small Dean Lane.

Extract from the obituary of Brian Panter -

"He joined the Royal Navy at eighteen, and his wartime experiences stayed with him for life. Sailing on warships in convoy with merchant navy vessels, he was twice torpedoed and rescued from the sea. He was part of the D Day Landings in 1944 and he was moored off Arramanche, in a ship full of ammunition and explosives, and had it been hit, all the crew would have perished". (click Brian & Nell Panter for more about Brian)

War fund raising -

click 1940 Spitfire Fund Fete in Lacey Green for details

click 1940 Dance at Lacey Green for Red Cross for details

click 1944 Stanley Holloway Stars in Lacey Green Concert for details