The
Unofficial WebsiteThe Second World War
At the outbreak of World War 2 some children from Rotherham were evacuated to Kiveton Park but soon returned home as the expected air raids did not happen. Anti-Aircraft guns were sited in various parts of the borough to help protect the heavy industries. Barrage balloons were set up in Clifton Park and other prominent spots.
It is probably fortunate that Rotherham did not loom large on German maps for there were only to serious raids although the town received many warnings about the attacks upon Sheffield. The first raid came upon the nights of 19 August 1940 and was aimed at the Templeborough Steel Works. Two people were killed when bombs hit the British Oxygen factory on Armer Street instead. The second raid on 29 August 1940 caused extensive damage in the Holmes area: one bomb hit the Midland Iron Company's offices and stables and windows were blow out over the town. During the Sheffield Blitz in December 1940 some incendiaries fell on the town but did little damage.
I can remember my mother saying that she, my grandmother and my elder brother used their air raid shelter once and were more frightened of the rats than they were of the Germans, so they never bothered again. Through most of the war, when my Dad was abroad in the army, my Mum, Gran and brother had soldiers or aircraftsmen (British, Australian, Polish and Czech at various times) billeted with them. I guess that the two women had to bunk up together to make room.
My mother's joy at the end of the war was tempered by the return of my father from the Far East dangerously ill with malaria, dysentery and meningitis. You'll be pleased to hear he survived otherwise I would not be here today.
Air Raid Protection (ARP) Wardens
In April 1937 the government decided to create an Air Raid Wardens' Service. During the next year around 200,000 volunteers were recruited and trained. Air Raid precautions were introduced in 1938 so that the population at large knew what to do in the event of an air raid. During the war the jobs of the ARP wardens included ensuring that the blackout was observed, sounding air raid sirens, ensuring that people went into public air raid shelters in an orderly fashion, checking gas masks, evacuating areas around unexploded bombs as well as helping to rescue casualties from bomb damaged properties, finding accommodation for people who had been bombed out, judging the extent and type of damage and informing the Control Centre to send out the rescue services. These were often people who held full time jobs during the day and spent their evenings and nights on duty.
Dad's Army
The Local Defence Volunteers was the original name of the Home Guard but was changed in July 1940 on the instructions of Winston Churchill as he felt that the original name was uninspiring. The Home Guard was stood down was on 3rd December 1944 and became an inactive reserve unit. The Home Guard was disbanded on 31st December 1945 and ceased to exist. Members of the Home Guard were either in reserved occupations, too young (under 18) or too old to serve in the forces. Often they put in a full day's work and then spent their evenings and nights on Home Guard duty.
According to Ernest Hollingworth
These memories thanks to Eric Beckett
If you were not an ARP warden or a member of the Home Guard or in the Anti-Aircraft Unit then chances were you would be a fire watcher or a member of the Auxilliary Fire Service. Much of the population held down two responsible jobs.
Holidays at Home
Another feature of the Second World War was the Holidays at Home programme featuring roundabouts, concerts, sports and entertainments in the local parks for those who could not get away on holiday. I believe that these continued for some years after the war ended and are fondly remembered by many folk over the age of fifty around here. Regular events were held at Clifton Park and probably other parks and playing fields as well.
Industry at War
Many local factories were converted to war production. Shells, armaments and Bailey Bridge sections were made in Rotherham.
Prisoners of War
I have read nothing in any of my books about prisoners of war but I know that there were several camps around Rotherham. Italian POWs worked for various farmers in the area. I have been told, though this may be an apocryphal tale, that they were allowed out of camp to go to the dances in town on a Saturday night.
Warship Weeks
Fundraising efforts for the armed forces went on all over the country. Amongst the many efforts in Rotherham was £700,000 (seems an enormous sum but I've found it quoted in two sources) which enabled the town to 'adopt' HMS Rotherham, an 'R' class destroyer launched in 1942.
York & Lancaster Regiment in WW2
The history of the York & Lancaster Regiment can found here.