A Skidby volunteer team exhibition about WWII, to mark the 75th anniversary of VE day.

Defence and Deception

The Airfield Deception Campaign Protecting the city In 1939, the R.A.F. began planning with the to establish decoy airfields near to their In an effort to confuse German bombers heading for Hull, an arrangement of 47 water-filled operational stations as they were vulnerable to being attacked. They needed the decoys to concrete tanks, each one illuminated by an overhead lamp, was constructed on the Outstray. divert the enemy bombing; dozens of dummy airfields began to be built with elaborate props This was a large area of saltings on the north bank of the estuary, downstream from taken from the Shepperton Studios, . To protect the real airfields, the dummies were Hull. The tanks were designed and positioned in such a way as to simulate the Hull docks at constructed in sparsely populated areas near to their parent station, where enemy bombers night in an imperfectly blacked out state. would drop their bombs not realising that it was a fake airfield. Parent stations in the East Riding The walls of the tanks were 0.5m high, and were either rectangular (9m by 5m), right-angled were at , , Catfoss, and Holme-on-Spalding-Moor. Decoys were triangle (6.5m by 6.5m) or pentagonal (10m by 9m). built at Routh, , Skerne, Kilham, Beeford, Burnby and South . The lamps were attached to the top of 3metre high wooden posts set in concrete and were angled to shine onto the water- filled tanks. The overhead lamps were known as ‘Leaking Lights’ and were operated by the from a post centred near Little Humber farm at .

Dummy aircraft such as this were designed to confuse bombers that were attacking airfields. Skipsea decoy, protecting Catfoss airfield, was Photograph of Aldbrough bombing decoy as it was at the equipped with dummy aircraft. end of the war, 13th April 1945 The two drains situated at [1] were dammed to flood the area between them in imitation of the in 1941. [2] shows the area at Cherry Cob Sands in , East where the decoy ponds (right) were situated.

Coastal defences After the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 it was thought that an invasion of British shores was very likely. The Holderness Coast was very vulnerable and the landing places for the enemy would certainly include Atwick, Mappleton, and Easington right down the estuary to and Paull. Defence measures were needed to prevent such attacks going unopposed. Along the beaches of the Holderness coast, pillboxes were to be built and the Home Guard and Territorials were given training. Pillboxes were very important for coastal defence, the only snag being they were static. They were solidly made and were tough obstacles for attacking Coastal defences, Holderness coast forces throughout the Second World War. They were manned 24 hours a day.

To create further confusion the real airfields were disguised. A camouflage scheme, such as the one for Pocklington airfield made the airfield appear as agricultural fields.

Pillboxes, Paull Stone Creek anti-aircraft battery During the winter of 1939 the Germans began to drop magnetic mines in the Humber. It was the Located at the western end of Sunk Island, between Hull and job of the ‘Wrens’ (Women’s Royal Naval Service) who were deployed at to degauss Spurn Head, Stone Creek has the best preserved remains of a ships using electric cables laid over the river bed, so would not set off the magnetic mines. WWII Heavy Anti-aircraft gun site in the East Riding. Even the Beach defences were a matter of urgency; soldiers and civil engineers caused great concern as domestic buildings, although ruined, are a rare survival; at the first rolls of barbed wire were washed out with the tide. A row of scaffolding to prevent tanks most other sites they have been demolished. The site was and vehicles landing and large anti-tank blocks were created. On top of the cliffs there were originally known as Station J when it opened in September reinforced concrete pill boxes and six pounder gun emplacements. 1939, fitted with 3 inch guns. From August 1941 it became Stone Creek, west of Sunk Island Station H9. At around the same women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service were at the site as radar operators. The other defences, such as anti-aircraft batteries and, most importantly, the development of radar played a key part in the defence of Britain. Anti- aircraft batteries, such as that at , operated searchlights against incoming German raids. The searchlights were mainly used to enable gunners to take accurate aim at night, but they could be used to help damaged bombers navigate in the dark on their return. This was not without its hazards. Mary Latham of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Impressive remains of Sunk Island battery. It was Remains of the Stone Creek gun emplacements. reported that: “During our time in Hull we shot down originally built during the Great War to defend the Humber one of our own aircraft (a Wellington) the crew gave estuary. It was reactivated during WWII and equipped with two 4.7 inch quick firing guns. It was also the Control The site was abandoned in November 1944 when the us the wrong signal. Fortunately he landed safely Centre for an anti-submarine minefield in the river. guns and staff were moved to Ringborough, on the with just the tail missing. We were commended for coast near Aldbrough, to counter the threat from the our accurate firing but the crew were not impressed. V1 flying bomb. The remains of this installation have Hull was badly hit at the time.” been lost to coastal erosion, as have the remains of the ancient village of Ringborough. In the end Britain was not invaded but all that had been put in place seemed to be a deterrent. At the end of the war all the defences were dismantled. “The beaches were cleared and paths made through the maze of barbed wire”. Traps were still about but “still one must not complain Drawings of aircraft at Stone Creek HAA site, as at least one could wander along the shore, swim or sunbathe”. presumably to aid distinguishing friend and foe. A Skidby volunteer team exhibition about WWII, to mark the 75th anniversary of VE day. Auxiliaries and Territorials

In 1940 the threat of invasion became imminent as the Germans had begun to assemble a massive force on the other side of the English Channel. With the amount of equipment losses in France, and the lack of reserves, this became a critical time in our defence of Great Britain. Defences such as using canals and rivers as gigantic anti-tank ditches were in place; but Winston Churchill realised that this was not enough to slow any enemy. One solution was the creation of a highly secret volunteer army of saboteurs called the ‘Auxiliary Units’.

Training Men would be discreetly invited to join a local Auxiliary unit Hideouts because they possessed a valued skill such as Each Auxiliary Patrol had an Operational Base or hideout. Auxiliary Unit hideouts were all made marksmanship, or knowledge of the local landscape. Most of differently, but were large enough to house six or seven men. Usually constructed underground, the patrol leaders would be recruited from the Home Guard, the hideouts were eventually fitted with bunks, cooking stoves, Tilley lamps and chemical toilets. with only the best and fittest men selected. They were not They were stocked with enough food and water to sustain a patrol for as long as a month. enrolled in the regular forces; they were in effect private Most hideouts had plenty of room for the patrols’ citizens. arms, ammunition and sabotage material, but an The county was under the control of an Intelligence Officer extra hide could be dug nearby to hold stores of who was a volunteer forces officer with the rank of Captain. Auxiliary Unit training additional food and ammunition. The men would have to sign the Official Secrets Act and would have their own, and their Engineers would dig a giant hole for the secret families’ backgrounds checked for security. bunkers, then lay a concrete floor and roof it with a half-cylinder of corrugated iron. They were 12 to 15 feet in length and tall enough to stand up in. One end had an entrance shaft that was lined The Auxiliaries were intended to carry out sabotage, guerrilla warfare with brick or corrugated iron. At the other end and spying. Emerging at night from their Underground operations was an escape tunnel, often a tube made of con- bases, their purpose was to carry out attacks against enemy targets crete that ran 20 to 30 feet away from the base.

such as supply dumps, railway lines, convoys and enemy occupied Plan of Rise Auxiliary Unit hideout. airfields. In the East Riding, Brough, Catfoss, Driffield, Leconfield and Cottam were listed as Class 1 airfields, and many Operational Bases were sited near these for high priority of sabotage in the event of an Cottingham Patrols invasion. The Operational Base for the Cottingham North Patrol was on the site of the Grange at Harland Rise, Cottingham. The hide was beneath a greenhouse and the patrol was once Auxiliary Unit badge almost wiped out by fumes from the boiler house. Fortunately patrol member Dr Lindsay who had been on a call returned to Intelligence Officer find his comrades on the point of death .

In 1940, Captain Peter Hollis became the Intelligence Officer for the

Auxiliary unit in East Yorkshire. He was the son of the Vicar of Map showing the location of the Operational Hornsea, Canon Hollis. Base of Cottingham North Patrol at Cottingham Grange In 1939, Captain Hollis had volunteered for the Territorial Army in the East Yorkshire Regiment, aged 19. In May 1940 after the Dunkirk Operation he volunteered for the role as Intelligence Officer. Captain Hollis controlled the East Yorkshire area as far as the village of Bainton.

East Riding Yeomanry in WWII Members of Cottingham Auxiliary Unit The East Riding Yeomanry (ERY) was a local Territorial Army armoured unit based in Cottingham North Patrol Members in 1944 Hull .In 1939 it consisted of two regiments: Sgt Jack H. Steel, Sanitary Inspector,d.o.b.10.09.1908 Drawing of Cottingham South patrol’s hideout st nd st Cpl Joseph Long, Grocer, 17.07.1897 the 1 and 2 ERY. In February 1940 the 1 Pte John G. Lindsay, Doctor (GP) ERY was sent to join the British Pte Ronald Newlove, Fitter, 19.11.1926 Expeditionary Force in France whilst the 2nd Pte Mark K. Wilson, Market Gardener, 04.12.1913 ERY remained at home. The Germans Pte Alan Bolton, Farmer, 25.12.1926 Pte John S. Rhodes, Butcher, 24.06.1913 invaded France and the Low Countries on 10th May 1940, quickly breaking through the st Allied Lines. The 1 ERY was thrown into East Riding Yeomanry - D-Day battle, fighting seven rear guard actions before being surrounded and destroyed at The D-Day landings began on 6th June 1944. These images show the involvement of the East Cassel on 29th May. Only about half escaped Riding Yeomanry in that campaign. Pictures courtesy of East Riding Archives and the Imperial East Riding Yeomanry camp in 1939/40 (Treasure House collection) via Dunkirk; 55 were killed and the rest War Museum. captured. The 1st ERY was brought up to strength by the 2nd ERY (which was disbanded) and spent the next 4 years training in preparation for D-Day. The regiment landed on Sword beach and was involved in the bitter fighting in Normandy, afterwards liberating Le Havre in September 1944. Following heavy fighting to free Holland in October 1944, the regiment was rushed south to block any German advance north during “The Battle of the Bulge”. The 1st ERY subsequently supported the Allied counterattack in the bitter winter temperatures of January 1945. The ERY was re-equipped with “Buffalo” amphibious vehicles, taking part in the assault Above Sherman tanks waiting to go into action, ERY landing during a D-Day rehearsal crossing of the Rhine in March 1945, ferrying June 1944 troops and supplies over the river. After this their tanks were returned and at the end of the war they occupied Kiel and Laboe on the German Baltic coast. The regiment was demobilised in 1946, to be reformed in the Territorial Army in 1947. ERY prisoners of war in Germany (Treasure House collection.)

ERY tanks advancing, October 1944 ERY tanks moving to the front, January 1945 A Skidby volunteer team exhibition about WWII, to mark the 75th anniversary of VE day.

Bombs and V-weapons

Leaving aside members of the armed forces who might be on active service abroad, one of the biggest impacts of the war on the population was the air war. In the summer of 1940, the Germans attempted to defeat the in the ‘’ and in 1944 the so-called ‘Vengeance weapons’ (the V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 rocket) brought terror to civilian populations far from the war fronts. Although not in itself a key target area for the German Luftwaffe, the East Riding did see a lot of activity during the Battle of Britain. It lay across the route to the industrial cities of the West Riding and was adjacent to the port city of Hull, the most bombed city in Britain after London.

Bombing in East Yorkshire Bombs fall on Much of the bombing activity in our area was as a result of German bombers which had lost their way and needed to offload their bombs somewhere before making their way home. Sometimes too, they may have misidentified targets. Otherwise, it is difficult to explain bombs falling in isolated rural fields, troubling some livestock, but very few people. Coastal ports were more intentional targets, and Bridlington in particular received much attention, with Hornsea and Withernsea also seeing raids. Likewise, there were deliberate attacks on the Blackburn aircraft factory at Brough and the oil terminal at Saltend. PC Jackson of Bridlington showing off an unexploded Hull may have suffered as many as 82 air raids, with about bomb (from a private Sketch showing bomb damage in Bridlington collection) 1200 people being killed. In the East Riding, the figure was harbour (Sewerby Hall collection) much lower – 82 civilians and 39 military personnel (mainly on airfields, such as RAF Leconfield). Bridlington Battle Honours In 1942 a plaque was presented to Alderman T.D. Fenby JP, Mayor of Bridlington and chairman of the Air Raid Precautions committee, which listed the bombing raids on Bridlington for the Article from the Hull Daily Mail 7 April 1940 period October 1939 to October 1941. Forty three separate incidents are itemised for the two years. V-1 The list distinguishes what weapons the bombers were delivering. The least deadly event was the dropping of leaflets over a wide In general the ‘V’ weapons were not a problem in this area to the north of Bridlington on 4/5 August 1940. Types of region. They were launched from sites in the Calais bombs were mostly high explosive (H.E.) and incendiary bombs area to concentrate on the south coast of . (I.B.), designed to cause fire. There were also 2 Parachute Mines, They only had fuel for about 30 minutes flying time 2 Oil Bombs, 2 “G” mines and one Sea Mine. and so could not reach the north of England. The most severe bombing was in May 1941. On May 3rd-4th six high explosive and 160 In order to attack industrial cities in the north, V-1 incendiary bombs fell on the ‘cemetery, near Baker’s Café, Sewerby Drive’ and on May 11th- missiles were launched from Heinkel 111 bombers 12th 14 H.E. and 500 I.B. fell on ‘South Pier, South Side Beach, King Street, Windsor Crescent, from off the mouth of the Humber. During such a mass Manor Street, New Burlington Road, Hilderthorpe Road’. attack on Christmas Eve 1944, a V-1 aimed at Manchester fell short and landed in Willerby, causing damage to houses and a pumping station. Photograph of a crashed Heinkel 111H, possibly near Garrowby. From the Hull Daily Mail 7th April 1940. Attack on RAF Driffield At around midday on 15th August 1940, about 50 V-1 missiles relatively short range and were also very Junkers JU88 bombers attacked Driffield inaccurate: when the rocket engine cut out they fell to aerodrome killing seven ground crew, including a the ground like any other bomb. One cunning German member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, five scheme to determine where the V-1s had landed was members of the East Yorkshire Regiment, a Royal to load some with leaflets called V1 P.O.W. Post Artillery gunner and one civilian. 169 bombs were which purported to contain letters from prisoners of dropped and twelve Armstrong Whitworth Whitley war to their families. The leaflets asked finders to post aircraft were destroyed. The attack was part of a them on to the relatives; this would enable those who larger operation in which German bombers based dispatched to rocket to know where it had fallen. in Denmark planned to attack a number of airfields in the north of England. Fighters from Leconfield Leaflet dropped with V-1 flying bombs Aerial view of Driffield airfield and (now East ) prevented most of the force reaching its intended targets. The only successful attack was that Norah Pinder, air-raid warden on RAF Driffield. Norah Pinder was an air-raid warden who was interviewed in 1999 as part of a programme of One survivor of the attack was an airframe fitter collecting oral histories. Air Raid Precaution wardens (ARPs) had wide ranging powers (in who was in the guardhouse having ‘borrowed’ a addition to the police) to enforce blackouts and to control traffic flow, as well as to watch for Fairy Battle single engine bomber for a ‘joy ride’. fires, set off air raid sirens, direct people to bomb shelters and help casualties. The guardhouse was demolished in the Luftwaffe Norah Pinder’s husband was seconded to Hull Fire Brigade and she was often on her own at attack but the offender walked away unharmed. their cottage in Skidby during air raids. ‘He was in Hull most of the time’. If the sirens were It is noticeable that the fatalities in the attack were sounding when the Hull bus reached Skidby, then the driver was put up in her house and the all ground crew. Because of the risk of attack most bus went back after the raid. Trained medical personnel were also sometimes called into Hull if of the aircrew, including overseas pilots from there had been a heavy raid with lots of casualties. Canada, New Zealand, Poland and Australia, were Norah recounted stories that showed that stray bombs falling could have consequences both billeted in and around Driffield, including 20 at serious and comical: Sunderlandwick Hall which burned down on VJ Day in 1945. The present hall hosts the Driffield Golf ‘Yes, light bombs, fire bombs. They were fire ones. And it set most of the trees alight up there. Hangar, Driffield airfield Club. We found one at the top of our garden. One that hadn’t gone off. There were quite a lot of incendiary bombs dropped….There was a big one dropped, that’s down at the bottom of Church Rise [in Skidby],…..there was a big one dropped there at Cherry Trees.’ (‘Mr Dixon (a neighbour) fell on an incendiary bomb, on his face, it was a mess. There was an old lady at the The threat of bomb damage to key public services was recognised and local authorities took end cottage….she always used to put her fur coat on every time the sirens blew and she always precautionary measures where they could. For example, in Pocklington a series of dwarf walls had a light on - I used to say - turn that light off. [She replied] When I’ve put my coat on!’ were built across the Beck, allowing water to be collected in pools. This would provide an Presumably the lady wanted to look her best if she was an air raid casualty! Remembering that emergency supply of water should the water mains be damaged in a raid. Control centres were Norah was an air raid warden, the lady’s behaviour must have caused her some annoyance as set up in larger towns and useful supplies stock piled there. Recently some WWII era canvas she was charged with ensuring there was a blackout. Norah Pinder interview, ERYC Museums stretchers were found in the basement at Bridlington Town Hall and two have been added to collection) the Museum Service’s collections. Whilst local authorities struggled to maintain some basic services, much of their business in the war years inevitably related to the conflict. A Skidby volunteer team exhibition about WWII, to mark the 75th anniversary of VE day.

Women at War

Women’s Voluntary Service The Land Army Originally created in 1938, the organisation became the Royal The Women’s Land Army (WLA) was originally established Voluntary Service from 1966. during the First World War, but was reconstituted during Set up by the Government, its original aim was ‘the enrolment of WWII. It’s primary purpose was to ensure an adequate supply women for air raid precaution services for local authorities’ and of food for the home population as a large proportion of the more generally, to spread knowledge in civilian circles as to what to male workforce in the countryside was called up for military do during and after air raids. service. The WLA were eventually involved in all aspects of agriculture including driving tractors and other machinery, Technically, there were no ranks in the WVS, but there were titles. planting crops and looking after animals. Sometimes they had The organisation was split into 12 regions, with almost 2000 to work alongside German and Italian prisoners of war and centres during the war. Women from all classes of society joined. although fraternisation was officially banned, relationships This social diversity did raise some issues with regard to uniforms. could (and did) develop. In June 1939, a suit uniform, hat and overcoat could be obtained, but as these were made by Harrods, they were rather expensive for working women! Uniforms therefore remained optional, The WLA met considerable opposition in some quarters, with and many wore their own clothes with just a WVS badge for identification. many farmers for example feeling that women would simply not be strong enough for farming work. It is certainly true that WVS members were employed in a wide variety of roles and were an important and much with women volunteering from all walks of life, some found appreciated resource. For example they staffed canteens for those fighting fires, drove their new circumstances harder than others. ambulances and operated information points during air raids. They also greeted returning soldiers, handing out clothes, food and drink. Service in the WVS counted as war service and members were therefore eligible for the Surviving accounts tell of the comradeship and the Defence Medal after the war ended. laughs that were had, but also make clear the unremitting hard work and often basic living conditions. Despite the initial prejudice, the WLA kept the country fed through the war and proved its worth. Air Transport Auxiliary The role of the air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was to ferry WLA enrolment card: conditions were a bit hard! newly produced planes from factories and airfields to RAF bases for active service. The women’s section of the ATA was created in January 1940, led by Pauline Gower, initially consisting of just eight female pilots. Initially confined to delivering training and transport aircraft, the Women’s ATA Amy Johnson’s ATA badge had to overcome considerable prejudice about female flying capabilities before being able to fly large bombers and also the famous (and fast) ‘Spitfire’ and ‘Hurricane’ fighters. From 1943 female ATA personnel had the same pay as the men, a first for that period. Land girls, ATA women wore a dark navy blue tunic, RAF type shirt and black tie and slacks (skirts were only worn off duty). RAF wings were worn on the tunic, along with rank indications. Some Rat catchers wealthier pilots did unofficially sew brightly coloured linings into their tunics! Official recognition was a long time coming – it was not until 2007 that surviving members were Service in the ATA was far from routine. Although operating mostly in the UK, they were still awarded a badge for all their efforts. flying in a combat zone, with no radios, and usually unarmed. ATA pilots were therefore vulnerable to being shot down by the Germans or by their own side if misidentified by anti- aircraft positions on the ground. In all 174 ATA pilots were killed during the war (about 15 were women); their courageous services freed up large numbers of trained RAF pilots for front line roles. Eileen Medford – recollections We went out to whatever farm we had to go to, either picking potatoes, weeding carrots on your hands and knees – awful job that, I think that’s why we’ve all got bad knees now, all the Amy Johnson kneeling in the damp grounds. One celebrity pilot in the ATA was Amy Johnson (1903-1941), the first I more or less worked along with the men. I had a good set of men to work with and I worked woman to fly solo to Australia. She joined the ATA in May 1940, based at the same hours as they did… So I worked then amongst…, you know doing everything on the nd RAF Hatfield, with the rank of 2 officer. Initially Amy ferried training farm, I was just the same as an ordinary man – tractoring. Some of the men at some of the aircraft such as Tiger Moths to squadrons in the north of England and farms weren’t [O.K. with girls coming in]. They were, you know, resentful because they were th Scotland. On 5 January 1941 Amy’s Airspeed Oxford transport ditched girls from towns. Granted some of them had never seen a cow in their lives, they were terrified in the Thames Estuary (she had probably run out of fuel and lost her way of them. in bad weather) and an attempt to rescue her I was lucky, I worked with horses. I had big shire horses to work with, 18 hand shire horses. was unsuccessful. A pigskin bag found at the They were big horses. They were a pair of old horses, well I say old, they were knowledgeable crash scene and the ATA badge from her horses. They knew what to do if you went to put a head collar on one of them he would spare uniform are amongst relics in the Amy immediately lift his head as high as he could do, where he should have put it down – he knew Johnson collection at Sewerby Hall near what he was doing. And when it was towards dinner time he knew it was it was dinner time and Bridlington. he would stop and wouldn’t go any further…. I worked on threshing machines, yes. Most of the girls had to carry caff as they called it, that was the husks and all the stuff that came out the bottom. You had to bundle it up, put it on your back and carry it away. Well I did do that occasionally...but mainly I was allowed to work on the Dorothy Robson - ‘Bomb Sight Bertha’ machine, I was insured to do that you see. We used to carry corn, we used to do all sorts. After studying for a Physics degree at Leeds University, Eileen Medford was originally from Hull and commuted by train to Market Weighton when she which was remarkable for a woman in 1940, Dorothy joined the Land Army. Later she lived in a Land Army hostel and then on one of the farms until Robson joined the Ministry of Aircraft Production. She she married at the end of the War. These recollections were recorded by Jayne Fisher in was initially based at Farnborough, where the work she January 2008. undertook was so secret, that not even her parents knew about it. Dorothy became an expert in the development of the bomb aiming equipment and, Factories because of her diligence, commanded respect wherever she worked. With men in the services many of their jobs had to be done by women. Dorothy was later sent to work predominantly on the Women worked in ship building, Bomber Command airfields in the north of England. factories and particularly munitions Her job led to her being nicknamed Bomb Sight Bertha, although she was also referred to as the girl with the laughing eyes, which illustrates the affection felt for her by the crews with They had to learn new skills such as whom she worked. handling machinery and welding as in this painting by Bernard Casson On November 3rd 1943, a week before her 24th birthday, Dorothy was testing a bomb sight in a which shows factory workers in Hull new Halifax bomber (‘Hetty the Hefflump’), flying out of Holme-on-Spalding-Moor airfield. making military vehicles. ( Tragically, the plane crashed onto the Wolds at Enthorpe near Market Weighton and Dorothy, Art Gallery collection) along with the crew of five, were all killed. It is a measure of her dedication that she had insisted on being present for the test, in order that the equipment was thoroughly checked. A Skidby volunteer team exhibition about WWII, to mark the 75th anniversary of VE day. Aliens — friend and foe

Whilst the Second World War pitted nations against others, it also brought different peoples and cultures together on a scale which had never occurred before in Britain. As British service men and women landed on foreign soils across the world, foreign nationals including refugees, allies and prisoners of war arrived in Britain, including the East Riding. Thousands of people from overseas found themselves in the East Riding between 1939 and 1945, indeed the number of inhabitants across the East Riding who did not come into contact with foreign nationals at some point during the war must have been very few. Memories of French, Italians, Germans, Polish, Americans and Canadians loom large in the recollections of locals who lived through this time, and they provide an insight into the curiosity, amusement and empathy that was often felt towards those from other countries who found themselves far from home amidst the conflict.

Prisoners of War Allies The Riding’s largely remote location and rural economy made it favourable for the holding of enemy prisoners of war. There were camps at Welton, , , Rudston and Amongst Britain’s allies, it was the French who West Cowick. The first POW’s held in Britain were German pilots, aircrew and naval personnel, were the first large overseas group to arrive in however, these were only small in number. The first major influx of enemy prisoners occurred Britain. After the evacuation of Dunkirk from July 1941 when Italians captured in the Middle East arrived on British shores. between 26th May and 4th June 1940, thousands of French found themselves in The arrival of these Italians allowed the Government to begin alleviating the labour shortage Britain. Betty Atkinson related her memories of particularly within agriculture. Gordon Bulmer recalls encountering Italian POWs at as a teenager in 1941: the ‘Free French’ who resided in Hornsea: “We went down into the woods and said “what “We had Free French [in Hornsea],...for quite a while. I don’t know why they ended up in are we going to eat” and they said “well Hornsea they were just landed on us and we there’s some pigeons here” so one of them just took it for granted like. They used to do had a catapult so I said “well you shoot a exercises in the park, you know? and they pigeon and we can roast it” y’see? …this was weren’t any bother a lot of the girls went with going down into South Cave in the woods West Indian serviceman Billy Strachan (far left) was stationed in ‘em.” Brough during the war. there and then suddenly this man appeared and he was an Italian prisoner of war … their camp was on the way down that hill into From the very early stages of the conflict the RAF and Fleet Air Arm also included personnel South Cave on the left hand side. They had from outside of the . The open and flat expanses of land in the East Riding, some Nissen huts, they were working on the coupled with the region’s close proximity to occupied Europe made it suitable for the lands of the farmers and he said “don’t do establishment of airbases and therefore the German prisoner of war farm worker and horse that” this Italian, he said “come and have tea arrival of a large number of foreign pilots. and a cake with us” and we went into this Many of these were exiles from Nazi-occupied camp and all the chalk in the area they’d Europe and also some American emigrants. carved it into beautiful statues did the Italian James Hardy of Beverley reminisced about a prisoners and he said “sit down and he said particularly dramatic episode involving a the only thing is we can’t buy anything in the Polish pilot: shops because we only have prisoner of war “One night my dad said to me, come and have money and we can only use that at sort of the a look here, they’ve shot a Jerry down! and NAAFI but we could use it if you could change we went outside to see this plane coming one of my notes for one of your notes”. So I down in flames and the next day we went to think we swapped a pound coin or something look and it [the plane] was in a field opposite can’t remember what it was a pound note I Womens’ Land Army girl Lena (Laverack) marrying an American Figham, he’d crashed in there and the pilot suppose it was in those days and he gave us soldier at Welton church November 1944 had bailed out and he was a Pole – a Polish this prisoner of war money for it.” pilot and he was in a [Hawker] Hurricane [aircraft] and they took him in and they thought he was Land Army girls with Italian prisoners of war. a Jerry.” After the Italian surrender on 3 September 1943, some 100,000 Italians volunteered to work as ‘co-operators’. They were given freedom and mixed with local people. Ted Williamson from The number of foreign allies on British soil swelled hugely following the entry of the United Hornsea recalled how he encountered Italian ‘co-operators’ in the Holderness area: States into the War, particularly from 1942. Over two million American servicemen passed “When the Italians changes sides, well they surrendered, all their prisoners were effectively through Britain during the Second World War. In the East Riding, Beverley was a major station released and they all found bikes from somewhere and I used to see dozens of them at for Americans. Beverlonian Barbara Oxtoby remembered: Thorngumbald and the Germans were at Roos and I think the Italians were at Burstwick “We saw the Americans [in Beverley] and we lived next door to Mr Brantano’s which was a somewhere and they [the Italians] all used to come into Withernsea ‘cos they used to get 10 garage and these Americans used to all come and collect there at the garage – why? I don’t bob a week pocket money and I suppose they could have a drink and chat up the local lasses.” know and I was really shy, I’d be about 2 or 3 [years old] and they used to try to talk to me but I In Britain, the Italians were joined by German POWs just over a year later following the D-Day can remember them offering me a stick of Wrigley’s chewing gum and we’d never seen that landings in the summer of 1944. Although there was an initial reluctance to utilise German before.” labour for the war-effort some 70,000 were working across Britain by March 1945. Ted’s wife, The village of Cottingham too was well-known American base. Dorothy Catterick remembered Joyce recollected German POWs working in the Holderness area and how bonds were formed her intrigue seeing the ‘Yanks’: between locals and captives: “The Americans came [to Cottingham] which was a big thing and they were near to us ‘cos they “The Brown’s they had three German prisoners of war who worked at the Church Farm at Sunk were at The Lawns – what is now The Lawns and we used to see them marching which, to me, Island and I remember one of them was called Karl and I remember my mother saying that he was the most humorous thing – they marched and they chanted and they’d go so many paces was a lovely lad was Karl and when they started to repatriate them to their own country Karl did one and then huh! So many paces the other and we just thought that this was so strange ‘cos not want to go home! But they made him go back, but some of the prisoners of war did stay.” we’d go to the end of Park Lane as they were marching down Hallgate.– it was the time of “got any gum chum?” and they gave nylons out to their ladies.” Vivienne Wray also remembered the Americans in Cottingham: I remember my dad saying “now don’t you dare ask them [American troops] for gum’! My mum “Softies” used to have some [American troops] to Sunday lunch and they used to bring something with them – they weren’t on rations like we were – they’d bring a couple of chickens with them and The Italians used to serenade us. They had my mum would cook them and they [the soldiers] always needed a bath because there were no a cook with them making coffee in the field. baths were they were situated They were at Storwood camp, they were very artistic and they made beautiful fountains there. They used to make ‘gold ‘ rings for farmers 'wives (brass of course) Migrant Workers and they used to rub them on their trousers. They had these uniforms with round POWs were not the only foreigners to work on the land during wartime. Former Land Girl patches like targets so they could be shot Gwendolyn Pinder explained how non-native migrants worked alongside British labourers at when escaping., a patch on their leg and on North Ferriby: their back They were real softies though…. “Erna was a Land Girl – she was Austrian, but lived in Ferriby, she came from Austria [before They were happy days. the war] as an au pair and she married Tom Cooper. There were quite a few Irish men working there, they’d come from Ireland to work on Market Gardening – tomatoes and cucumbers Muriel Berzins - oral history, Guildhall Model plane hand-crafted and given to Joan Burnett and her sister collection. by prisoners of war who worked on their father’s farm at Cottingwith. because it [North Ferriby] was quite a big area for market gardening.” Storwood POW camp was at Cottingwith.