I apologise to those who remember the small part of this first paragraph I previously posted in an essay describing the marvellous institution of Cluttons of 1940. I believe it and what follows demonstrates, graphically, the changes wrought in business since then. I was articled as a Valuation Surveyor to Cluttons. – the most august… Continue reading WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order,Cluttons, Part 2 of 3.
WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order,The Guards, the H.G. and Buckingham Palace
Presumably, as a morale booster, a genius at Whitehall thought it would be a ‘terrific idea’ for the HG to mount guard at Buck H, unaware what the poor devils would suffer at the delicate hands of the Guards’ Drill Sergeants. An edict was read out at parades. I assumed it was an honour for… Continue reading WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order,The Guards, the H.G. and Buckingham Palace
WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order, The Grenadier Guards at Whitehall
In time we, in the Westminster Homeguard were chosen to man blockhouses in Whitehall. Crude, concrete structures, set across a road leading to Whitehall and with a gate making free access impossible. Our job was sentry duty outside the blockhouse on ‘X’ nights a week and at weekends. In the blockhouse it was like a… Continue reading WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order, The Grenadier Guards at Whitehall
Random Thoughts No 7, Suicide Pacts , a new phenomenon
Some of us feel that the Internet has been permitted the level of freedom which is beyond commonsense. When one can obtain details of how to make a bomb, how to form a suicide pact, how to obtain pornography of every sort, and that the hits on these types of programmes are probably of a… Continue reading Random Thoughts No 7, Suicide Pacts , a new phenomenon
Another warning, Coastal Paths.
Someone in the government is trying to put forward a Bill to allow paths to be constructed around our coasts, taking over land belonging to those it will pass through. I believe this has not been thoroughly thought through. When my children were young we used to go walking in the hills, forests and on… Continue reading Another warning, Coastal Paths.
WW2, 1940 to 41, in order, The Army, Home Guard an Nortover Projector
The Army and the Guards in particular need no recommendation from me, their records over eons speak for themselves, but the relationship between them and the Home Guard I found amusing and worth relating. Loosely attached to The King’s Royal Rifles, a swank regiment, with a history of valour, we wore a black cap badge… Continue reading WW2, 1940 to 41, in order, The Army, Home Guard an Nortover Projector
WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order, Clement Atlee and the Home Guard
Those of the Television Era would not appreciate the shock of misconception suffered when brought face to face with a politician whose appearance and mien have been conjured from only newspaper articles, radio interviews and radio comment, when there was no TV. Recently, all we see is the top few of our leaders and their… Continue reading WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order, Clement Atlee and the Home Guard
WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order,The Blitz, Balham Tube Station
Under The Stairs As far as I was concerned I could never be bothered to get out of bed unless the bombing was so heavy my mother insisted and then she and I sat in the cupboard under the stairs. It was there that I witnessed real fear, almost to the point of terror for… Continue reading WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order,The Blitz, Balham Tube Station
WW2, 1940 to ’41,in order, Incendiaries and Fire-warching
I was asleep in bed when my mother woke me. She told me that the house opposite had been hit by an incendiary. These were silver coloured, probably of aluminium, tubes about nine inches to a foot long which were dropped in bunches and scattered on their way down, bursting on impact and setting fire… Continue reading WW2, 1940 to ’41,in order, Incendiaries and Fire-warching
WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order, The London Blitz.
The Guns I came home from evacuation in time for the blitz on London, so all the hassle of evacuation was totally negated, except it had been an incredible experience and I had learned more about life in one year than I would have in three or four, at home. At the time, among the… Continue reading WW2, 1940 to ’41, in order, The London Blitz.