Jambusters
Page 33
WEBSITES
www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/
www.iwm.org.uk/
www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
www.oxforddnb.com/
www.thewi.org.uk
PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS
The author and publishers would like to thank the following copyright-holders for permission to reproduce images in this book:
The Mary Evans Picture Library: 1, 2, 18, 21, 27
National Portrait Gallery: 3
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes: 4, 9, 22, 23, 26, 28
Mary Diggle: 14
Christine Downes: 5, 6, 8
Caroline Dickinson: 12
Ann Tetlow: 15, 17
Dorcas Ward: 16
Peggy Sumner: 11
Getty Images: 10
WI Markets: 19, 20, 24
Sybil Norcott: 13
Mrs Milburn’s Diaries: An Englishwoman’s Day to Day Reflections, 1939–45: 7, 25
The author and publishers have made all reasonable efforts to contact copyright-holders for permission, and apologise for any omissions or errors in the form of credits given. Corrections may be made to future printings.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am so very grateful to everyone who has been involved in Jambusters and for the enormously generous response from the Women’s Institute. It has been a great privilege and fun in equal measure. First and foremost I would like to celebrate those women whose stories feature prominently in the book and who give it the voice from the war years: Caroline Dickinson, Mary Diggle, Ann Tetlow and Dorcas Ward talked to me about their mothers, Ruth Toosey, Dr Gwen Bark, Betty Sims and Miriam Ward respectively, bringing colour and humour to their stories. Betty Houghton, Sybil Norcott and Peggy Sumner told me about their own personal experiences of the WI in wartime, which provide vivid detail, and Chris Downes shared with me the glorious diaries and memoir of her great-aunt, Edith Jones. Thank you all so much.
I received wonderful encouragement from several ladies closely associated with the WI’s archives and have pleasure in thanking them for their help: Helen Carey, Sue Cox, Virginia Lawrence, Edwina Oldham, Linda Oliver and Anne Stamper.
Every book needs a heart and this one, especially, has benefited from the generosity of Institute members who have delved into attics, boxes and memories on behalf of their wartime predecessors, and it is to them that I owe a great thanks: Jenny Andrews, Sheila Arbuckle, Frances Armstrong, Christine Bailey, Elsie Bainbridge, Margaret Banner, Heather Bartlett, Heather Beaumont, Alwyn Benbow, Anne Bennett, Jill Bexon, Gillian Blake, Jeanette Booth, Jenny Bowman, Jill Broadley, Jeannetta Brodrick, Jean Burgess, Linda Carew, Yvonne Cherry, Celia Cleobury, Linda Cooper, Lilian Cowen, Bridget Crow, Mary Daniels, Sara Downey, Jane Finnerty, Margaret Funnell, Joan Grisedale, Margery Hall, Alison Hannaford, Marilyn Hawkins, Jenny Hayes, Mary Hodgson, Evelyn Hodson, Jenny Holloway, Anne Huddleston, Lesley Hunter, Janice Jones, Jean Lane, Eileen Lloyd, Annie Manson, Audrey McKinnon, Dawn McLaren, Janet Melvin, Gwyneth Moores, June Moran, Hilary Morris, Liz Nicholls, Pauline Norbury, Gill Offley, Anne Peacock, Chris Phillips, Brenda Powell, Gill Pratt, Jill Pratt, Betty Prickett, Val Reynolds, Jean Ridgeway, Joyce Ridgeway, Christine Salisbury, Joan Simpkins, Clare Slack, Margaret Smith, Charlotte Stead, Amaryllis Stock, Jan Talbot, Gill Tanner, Margaret Vivian, Jenny Warren, Sheila Westall, Heather Wilkin, Maxine Willett, Jane Williams, Christine Wootton, Elizabeth Wrigley, Jackie Wylie and Linda Young at the WI Markets. I would also like to mention Margaret Clephan of Goostrey WI, who was so supportive of the book and sadly died in 2012.
The Women’s Library in London, which holds the National Federation of Women’s Institute archive, provided a treasure trove of material and I am grateful to the librarians there who do such an outstanding job with important national collections on women’s issues. The Department of Documents at the Imperial War Museum was as hospitable and helpful as ever and I thank them warmly.
Finally I would like to thank those who have helped with the production of the book: my agent Catherine Clarke, my editors Angela Herlihy and Mike Jones, my copy editor Martin Bryant, Briony Gowlett and to those who gave me permission to quote from their own works or offered support and encouragement: Lizzie Collingham, Midge Gillies, Stephanie Hickish, Terry Mitchell, Penny Noble, Stephen Rockliffe, James Roffey, Dianne Shepherd, Nigel Stanley, Nigel Stoneman, Gillian Summers, Tim Summers, Erica Toosey, Michele Topham, Annabel Warburg, Maxine Willett, Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska. Finally, thanks to my husband, Chris, and my sons Simon, Richard and Sandy who chip in and help with cheerful comments and chocolate biscuits to keep me going.
INDEX
Aberdeen, Lady ref1
Abinger WI ref1
Adams, Mrs ref1
Agricultural Organisation Society (AOS) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Aid to Russia fund ref1
air-raid shelters ref1, ref2
Albemarle, Lady ref1, ref2
Albury WI ref1, ref2
Aldington WI ref1
Allied Medical Advisory Committee ref1
allotments ref1, ref2
Alphington WI ref1, ref2, ref3
ambulance drivers ref1, ref2, ref3
Ambulance Fund ref1, ref2
American troops ref1, ref2
American Women’s Voluntary Service ref1
Amies, Hardy ref1
Amor, Mrs ref1
Anderson, Sir John ref1
Andow, Mrs ref1
Anglesey County Federation ref1
Anglesey, Lady ref1
animal husbandry ref1, ref2
animal slaughter ref1, ref2
pig farming ref1, ref2
poultry-keeping ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
rabbit breeding ref1, ref2
annual general meetings ref1
1938 ref1, ref2, ref3
1939 ref1
1943 ref1, ref2, ref3
apple storage ref1, ref2, ref3
Arnside WI ref1, ref2
Ashover WI ref1
Associated Countrywomen of the World ref1, ref2
Audlem WI ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Austerity Britain ref1
Baggrow and Blennerhasset WI ref1
Bainbridge, Elsie ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
Baker, Mrs A.T. 180
Balcombe, Sussex ref1, ref2, ref3
Balsall Common WI ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Bank of England ref1
Barham WI ref1, ref2, ref3
Barham with Kingston WI ref1, ref2
Bark, Dr Gwen M. ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Barnet House, Oxford ref1
Barnston WI ref1, ref2
Barrow ref1
Barrow WI ref1, ref2, ref3
Barthomley WI ref1, ref2
basket-making ref1, ref2
Battle of Britain ref1, ref2
BBC Home Service ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Beaconsfield WI ref1
Beatles ref1
Beaton, Cecil ref1
Belgium ref1
Benbow, Alwyn ref1
Berkshire County Federation ref1, ref2
Berkswell WI ref1
Betchworth WI ref1
Bevan, Aneurin ref1
Beveridge, Sir William ref1, ref2
Beveridge Report ref1, ref2
Bickleigh WI ref1, ref2, ref3
billeting, compulsory ref1, ref2
billeting officers ref1, ref2, ref3
Bird, Mrs ref1, ref2
birth rate, UK ref1
black market ref1, ref2
blackcurrants ref1, ref2, ref3
blackout ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Blackwell WI ref1
Blagg, Mrs ref1
Blanche, Kitty ref1
Bledlow Ridge WI ref1
Bletchley Park ref1
Blewitt, Mrs Denys ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Blitz ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
&
nbsp; Blitzkrieg ref1, ref2
Blunt, Maggie Joy ref1
Board of Agriculture ref1, ref2
Board of Trade ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Bondfield, Margaret ref1
bone salvage scheme ref1
Botley WI ref1
bottling ref1, ref2
Boult, Sir Adrian ref1
Boxted Hall, Essex ref1, ref2
Boxted WI ref1, ref2
Bradfield ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Bradfield WI ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14
bread ref1, ref2, ref3
rationing ref1
British and Allied Comforts and Victims of War Fund ref1
British Expeditionary Force ref1, ref2
British restaurants ref1, ref2
British Sailors’ Society ref1
British War Relief Society ref1
Broadway WI ref1
Browne, Mrs ref1, ref2
Brunner, Lady ref1
bucket lavatories ref1, ref2, ref3
Buckinghamshire County Federation ref1, ref2, ref3
Bucklebury ref1
Bude WI ref1
Burrough on the Hill WI ref1
Burton and Puddington WI ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Burton Joyce and Bulcote WI ref1
bus services ref1, ref2, ref3
camaraderie ref1, ref2
Cambridgeshire County Federation ref1
camouflage net garnishing ref1, ref2
Canada ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Canadian troops ref1
canning ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
mobile canning vans ref1
risks ref1
canteens ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
see also British restaurants
Canterbury ref1
Canterbury, Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of ref1
Carnegie UK Trust ref1, ref2, ref3
Catlin, K.M. ref1
Cefn WI ref1
Central Housing Advisory Committee ref1
Cercles des Fermières ref1
Chalfont St Giles WI ref1
Chamberlain, Neville ref1, ref2, ref3
Channel Islands ref1
charitable donations ref1, ref2
Charlton on Otmoor WI ref1
Cheshire County Federation ref1, ref2, ref3, ref3
chess sets ref1
Chiddingly WI ref1, ref2
child allowances ref1, ref2
child evacuees ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11
adjustment difficulties ref1, ref2
bed-wetting ref1
entertainment ref1, ref2, ref3
head lice ref1
health and hygiene ref1, ref2, ref3
knitting and sewing for ref1, ref2
mothers and infants ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
overseas ref1
parental visits ref1, ref2, ref3
private evacuees ref1
schools ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
selection process ref1
shoe and boot collections for ref1
skin complaints ref1
social problems ref1, ref2
teachers and support staff ref1, ref2
children
child health ref1, ref2, ref3
clothes rationing ref1
education ref1
experiences of wartime ref1
parties ref1, ref2, ref3
see also child evacuees
Christie Hospital, Manchester ref1
Christmas celebrations ref1
Churchill, Clementine ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Churchill, Winston ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Cirencester WI ref1
City League of Help ref1
Civil Defence ref1, ref2, ref3
civilian casualties ref1
Clarke, Mrs ref1, ref2
Clayton, Miss ref1
Close, Mrs ref1
clothes rationing ref1, ref2
children ref1
non-rationed items ref1
school uniforms ref1
shoes ref1
clothing
hats ref1
Make Do and Mend campaign ref1, ref2, ref3
reusing and repairing ref1
second-hand ref1
stockings ref1
utility clothing ref1
washing and drying ref1, ref2, ref3
see also clothes rationing; knitting and sewing
Co-operative Fruit Preservation Scheme ref1
Coleshill Fruit Preservation Centre ref1
Collingham, Lizzie ref1, ref2
Colossus computer ref1
competitions ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
composting ref1, ref2
Coningsby and Tattershall WI ref1, ref2, ref3
cookery demonstrations ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
cooking in the home ref1, ref2
cooperative agricultural societies ref1, ref2
cottage industries, promotion of ref1
cotton reel collections ref1
Council for Maternity and Child Welfare ref1
Council for the Encouragment of Music and the Arts ref1
Coventry ref1, ref2
Cowdray Club ref1
Cowley, Mrs ref1
Cox, Vera ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Craft Guild ref1
crafts
basket-making ref1, ref2
commemorative embroidery ref1
glove-making ref1, ref2, ref3
revival ref1
rush work ref1
slipper-making ref1, ref2
spinning ref1
thrift crafts ref1, ref2, ref3
toy-making ref1
see also knitting and sewing
Craigen, Miss ref1
Criccieth WI ref1
Crowthorne WI ref1
Cuckfield WI ref1
Cullum, Barbara ref1
Cumberland County Federation ref1, ref2
Cumbria ref1
D-Day landings ref1
Dainty, Mrs ref1
Dalton, Hugh ref1
Danbury WI ref1
dances ref1, ref2
Davies, Sir Walford ref1
debates ref1, ref2, ref3
defiance under fire ref1, ref2
Denbighshire (County Federation) ref1, ref2
Deneke, Helena ref1, ref2
Deneke, Margaret ref1
Denman, Lady Gertrude (‘Trudie’) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14, ref15, ref16
background ref1
character and qualities ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
death of ref1
democratic beliefs ref1, ref2
GBE ref1
in Australia ref1, ref2
in the First World War ref1
leadership style ref1
marriage and children ref1
NFWI chairman ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
on Miss Hadow ref1
poultry-keeping schemes ref1, ref2
preparations for a post-war world ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
public posts ref1, ref2
resignation ref1
and the Women’s Land Army ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Denman College ref1, ref2
Denmark ref1
Denny, Mrs ref1
Design of Dwellings (Dudley Committee) ref1
Devon County Federation ref1
diaries
Clara Milburn ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14, ref15, ref16, ref17, ref18, ref19, ref20, ref21, ref22, ref23, ref24
Constance Miles ref1, ref2
Edith Jones ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14, ref15
Mass Observation ref1, ref2
Nella Last ref1
Dickinson, Caroline ref1, ref2
, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
diet, wartime
fats ref1
monotony of ref1, ref2
spicing up ref1
see also food rationing
Dig for Victory campaign ref1
digitalis ref1, ref2
dog ‘wool’ ref1
domestic science ref1, ref2
Dorking Halls ref1
Dorman-Smith, Sir Reginald ref1
Dorset County Federation ref1, ref2, ref3
Dover Patrol ref1
Downes, Chris ref1, ref2
Downey, Sara ref1
drama productions ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Duff, Robin ref1
Dunham Massey WI ref1
Dunkirk evacuation ref1
Dunne, Hon. Mrs ref1, ref2
earth closets ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
East and West Hendred WI ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
East Kent County Federation ref1, ref2
education
domestic science ref1, ref2
rural Britain ref1, ref2
survey ref1
WI role ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
see also schools
Egerton, Mrs ref1
eggs
powdered ref1, ref2
rationing ref1
electricity supplies ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Elizabeth, Princess (later, Queen Elizabeth II) ref1
Elizabeth, Queen, The Queen Mother ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Elliot, Walter ref1
Emergency Medical Service Hospital ref1
entertainment and relaxation
children’s parties ref1, ref2, ref3
Christmas celebrations ref1
drama productions ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
for the forces ref1
games ref1, ref2
music ref1, ref2, ref3
WAAFs and land girls, entertaining ref1
welcome clubs for American troops ref1
see also social half-hours
Erle Drax, Miss ref1
Essendon WI ref1
Europe, post-war relief of ref1, ref2
evacuation ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
adjustment difficulties ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4