Description
Object description
British schoolboy in Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, GB, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, GB, 1939-1945: story of air crews being billeted with local families; story of seeing Halifax bomber make emergency landing; talked to bomber crews before missions; story of mother sewing wings given by pilot onto jumper; opinion of peanut butter; story of Wellington bomber pilot buzzing girlfriend's farmhouse; problem of Canadian airmen stealing bicycles; amusing story of throwing snowballs at crews in RAF trucks; description of standing on runway while bombers took off; relations with Italian POWs; noise of air raid siren at Thirsk; use of kitchen table and cupboard under stairs during air raids; story of collecting shrapnel after air raid; story of RAF Topcliffe being strafed and watching RAF funerals; memories of visiting cinema at RAF Topcliffe; story of playing in village football team against German POWs; description of identification patches worn by German POWs; allowed to drive tractor on farm; story about party in Canadians officers' mess; story of aircraft being blown up at beginning of war; description of German aircraft dropping land mine and strafing railway line and farmyard; given Mars bars by Salvation Army at RAF Topcliffe; description of gun emplacement outside Angel Hotel; story of watching Flying Fortresses and Whitley bombers landing; demolition of farms; story about stolen scarves.
REEL 2 Continues: evacuated to Topcliffe c.1938; education; reaction to war; story of borrowing copies of War Illustrated from newsagent and reading in lessons; amusing story of older boy organising own 'Home Guard' unit and drilling in street with broomsticks; issued with gas mask; gas drill in school; effect of war on education; story about Headmaster accidentally shot during Home Guard training; story about accident with Thompson sub-machine gun during Home Guard lecture at Topcliffe School; problem of shortage of teachers; school used for dances; listened to broadcasts by Lord Haw-Haw; proximity of home to several aerodromes and hearing engine and machine gun testing; story of watching Whitley bombers take off; story of seeing first black man serving as sergeant pilot; role delivering telegrams to guard rooms at RAF Dalton, RAF Dishforth and RAF Topcliffe; delivered groceries to farmers on bicycle; description of collecting live bullets and Perspex from crashed aircraft; story of school friend throwing bullet into stove; description of stores at army camp, anti-aircraft guns and searchlights; story of army convoy arriving in village; brother charted progress of war on map; story of taking in family of dead air gunner; story of mother washing clothes for air crew.