World War 2 Eighty Years On - December 1944

On 16th December the Germans  launched a surprise counter – offensive against the weakest sector of the  Allied line. The battle became known as the ‘Battle of the Bulge’. The main V-2 attack had now switched from London to Antwerp.

As the year drew to its close some wartime restrictions on the home front eased but food rationing made it difficult to cater for Christmas parties. 

A Christmas party given at the village hall by the Miss Rooke, Head Mistress, for the school children was a great success. With the generous support of Mr Rooke, her father, Mr and Mrs de Purdy, Mr and Mrs Miles and others who prepared and gave party food. The scene was set, a beautiful decorated tree lit with candles, paper hats and favours all added to the fun for the one hundred children who had an enjoyable time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham.

Photographic History of Eton Wick and Eton - Community Organisations and Social Life -Eton Wick Minors FC 1948

 

The Minors were formed in 1946 following the end of the War, when Harry Wakefield and Doug Cooper formed an Under 18's village football club. They played their home games in Eton Recreation Ground. Sports kit was still virtually unobtainable due to wartime clothing rationing, so the boys played in any light coloured/near to white shirt, and Mrs Bill Sibley (mother of two of the team) made black shorts for the team from off-coupon wartime blackout material. Village colours were traditionally amber and black, but here was born the origin of black and white for the boys team. 

In 1948 the team were able to have this photo taken in newly bought kit. They are, in the back row: Doug Cooper, Frank Bond (committee), Jim McDougall, Alan Herd, Ray Haverly, Tony Rodwell, Harry Wakefield and Cecil Thorn (committee). 

In the centre row: Ray Knight, John Grant, John Batt (captain), Dennis Phillips and John Knott. 

Bob Horton and John Newport are in the front row. 

John Grant went on to play in senior league football. In later life he opened bakers shops in Windsor and Eton Wick. 

This article was first published in A Pictorial History of Eton Wick & Eton.

World War 2 Eighty Years On - 1944 - Home Guard

December

Disbandment for the local Home Guard Battalions was held at Windsor Castle on Sunday, December 8th. Among the Home Guard units on parade were the Heavy AA Battalion, the 8th Berks. (Windsor Borough Batt.), the 9th. Berks. (Windsor Crown Land Batt.) and ‘D’ Stretch Upper Thames Patrol who were under the command of Major C.D.N. Butler.  Assembling at Victoria Barracks the parade marched to the Castle via Sheet Street and Park Street. With the band of the Royal Horse Guards playing an appropriate march the troops arrived at their appointed places for inspection by the King. Among those on parade was Alf Cook from Eton Wick to whom the King put questions about the cap badge of the Upper Thames Patrol.

 

King George VI, a keen collector of cap badges, taking a close interest in Eton Wick resident Private Alf Cook’s ‘Upper Thames Patrol’ unit Badge.

The summer had seen the successful invasion of German occupied France and the Allied Armies had by December liberated Paris. V-1 flying bombs still fell on London and Manchester where fifty Heinkel Bombers launched a V-1 raid killing 37 people. Anti Aircraft Gun batteries were strengthened more raids materialized.  The introduction by the Germans of  a new and more deadly weapon had  came into use which was officially revealed by the Prime Minister in November.  The  V– 2 rocket travelled at 3000 miles per hour carrying a one ton of explosive.  The first arrived on September 13th falling on Chiswick causing much destruction and heavy casualties.  Against the V–2 there was no defence and  it was of utmost priority that the Allied armies capture the launching sites in Holland.   

Units were affiliated to their regular county regiments.

December 8th 1944

 Stand Down of the Windsor and Eton Home Guard Battalions

 King George VI inspects lady Home Guard volunteers 

who had been the back room support manning telephones,  

clerical, and catering.

2nd right , Mrs Lovell,  of Eton Wick.

Windsor Home Guard Anti  - Aircraft  Battery

The home Guard Gunners served alongside Royal  Artillery  AA Batteries. The formation of Home Guard AA units allowed the release of regimental Royal Artillery gunners for posting to active war fronts. The 3.7” guns shown in the photographs were located in the Windsor Great Park. 

The 3.7”  heavy A.A gun was designed to engage raiders up to 30,000 ft or more. The difficulty of getting a hit on target resulted in a timed fuse to burst the shell when it had been calculated to reach the target giving a radius of burst of approximately 60 feet.. Precise fuse setting  was required for the shell to burst at the exact point to damage and bring down the target as the shell, travelling at 2000ft./sec., having an error setting error of one tenth of a second would  cause a burst  200ft. From the target.    Improved performance  of the 3.7” was achieved by lining down a 4.5” to shoot a 3.7” shell using a 4.5” cartridge. This proved highly successful until the A.A. gun was replaced by the guided weapon.

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham.