world war two resources the record office for leicestershire, leicester & rutland

World War Two Resources

The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester &

Rutland

Introduction

This resource has been produced from archival and local studies sources held at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland. This is the home for historical material relating to all three authorities. The resource is the product of a partnership between the Record Office and a group of teachers. The sources have been divided into nine themes. Each slide contains a title, shows an image of the document, contains an accompanying description which explains what the document shows, where it is, what is happening and its unique reference number. There are 80 slides In total.

The resource is aimed specifically at Keystage 3 pupils who are studying World War Two history but some of the sources could equally well be used at Keystage 2 level. Some of the material lends itself to being cross-curricular and could be used for geography. The examples of the Leicester air raid shelter map and home guard map of Charnwood Forest come to mind. Some Material could also be used for citizenship – I am thinking here of some of the evacuation material, women at war and rationing slides.

In order to demonstrate how the material could be used lesson plans are attached which have been produced by Crown Hills and Abington High School on the themes of evacuation, bombing raids and the Leicester blitz.

Teachers Name………………………… Subject…………………………… Class……………………………….. Number of students…………………. Number of Girls…………………… Number of boys…………………

Lesson context (sow/pos): Lesson 10: the Home Front: Blitz

Learning objectives: To understand what the Blitz was and its impact on civilians through local primary sources

Learning outcomes:All students will know what is meant by the terms blitzkrieg and civiliansMost students will understand how the blitz affected peoples livesSome students will begin to understand how the blitz is connected to evacuation and rationing

Inclusion: Group work and role-play to express ideas

Provision for Gifted and Talented:By outcome-amount of detail in role-play

Boys Achievement:Role-play activity

Key words:Blitzkrieg (Blitz), Civilians, Civil Defence. Air Raid Precaution (ARP) Wardens, Total War

Resources:Flipchart 10, Primary Sources (Map of Shelters, ARP Incident Reports, Death of 12yr old boy, Fire Service Log Book)

Homework: Start preparing for Assessment-Students need to revise everything they have studied in the topic, as this a recall based assessment. Lesson 13 will be assessment

Starter: (Don’t tell students lesson title or objectives at this point)ISM activity. Show students the image of the VE Day Street Party. Students have to use the 5Ws to try and understand what is going on in the picture. Take feedback from students and guide their thinking. Ensure they understand that people held these parties because they had been through 5 years of Total War

Main:

Explain what the Blitz was-Began with the bombing of London in September 1940 etc.

Show the photograph of bomb damage in Leicester. What can students find out from this picture. Highlight the fact the bomb was probably intended for the railway station, as the Germans bombed important places/buildings etc.

Discuss censorship. Photo A would be censored. B was allowed because it had the reassuring presence of a police officer, and people were going about their daily business.

Show map of location of public shelters in Leicester and photograph of inside a public shelter. What do students think it would be like to spend a night in an air raid shelter? – Write in books

Give each group a copy of a Blitz incident (Death of 12yr old boy G&T-highlight that nobody identified the body why not?, Fire Service Log Book or ARP Incident Report SEN) students have to work as a group to find out what the event is, important details etc and then turn this into a role-play for the rest of the class to understand.

Plenary:Show Role-Plays

TIME:10 minutes

5 minutes

5 minutes

10 minutes

10-15 minutes

10 minutes

Teachers Name………………………… Subject…………………………… Class……………………………….. Number of students…………………. Number of Girls…………………… Number of boys…………………

Lesson context (sow/pos): Lesson 11: The Home Front –Evacuation

Learning objectives: To understand what life was like for an evacuee

Learning outcomes:All students will know what evacuation was Most students will understand what life was like for an evacueeSome students will be able to fully explain whether evacuation was a good or bad thing

Inclusion:Writing frame for letter

Provision for Gifted and Talented:Evaluation activity, Full explanations

Boys Achievement:Short activities, leading to longer activity

Key words:Evacuation, Billeted,

Resources:

Flipchart 11 Evacuation Sources

Homework:

To continue to prepare for assesssment

Starter;

ISM, show students the photograph of the evacuees arriving at the train station in Northampton. 5Ws How do you think these children were feeling|?

Main:

Students use the set of sources to complete the following table about the evacuation experience:

Source Number What it says about the What can you work out about the

evacuation experience evacuees’ home life before evacuation

Students write a letter to their mum explaining what their new life is like. Writing frame

available for SEN students.

Plenary:

Do you think evacuation was a good or bad thing? Explain why?

Time:

10 minutes

15 minutes

20 minutes

5 minutes

Evacuation Letter: Writing Frame

January 1940 Dear Mum, I’ve arrived at my new home out in the country. I am now living in ………………… I am living with a host family, they are like my foster family. I have a Mum, Dad and a new brother and sister. Let me explain how I came to live with them. After reaching the train station I ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… At the local school/village hall all the evacuees had to …………………… then the host families arrived. I was chosen by my new family. When I was waiting to be chosen I felt ……………………………………………………………………… some children didn’t get chosen, they must have felt…………………... …………………………………………………………… When we got to our new house I was shown around. You won’t believe it Mum it’s got….......................................................................................................................................... I have started at the local school and I have made some friends. After school I ……………………………………………………. It’s very different in the country compared to the city because………………… ………………………………………………………………………………. I hope everything is OK at home, and nobody we know has been bombed. Can’t wait for your visit. Lots of love

A record of evacuees who had heath problems at Taylor street primary school

What does this photograph tell you about the Blitz?

Bomb damage in Conduit Street Leicester, 13th July 1941

The government censored information. Both photographs below are of the same bomb damage in the same street. Which do you think would have been censored and why?

• A • B

Where did people shelter from the bombs?

Describe in your book what it would be like to spend the night in an air raid shelter

Lesson plans

File

File 2

Abington High SchoolKS3 History

Evacuation Lessonplan

Table of Contents1. Home front / Home Guard 30-382. Bombing raids and casualties 39-493. Evacuation 50-614. Women at War 62-665. Rationing 67-736. Posters 74-797. Civilian war deaths 80-948. Military war deaths 95-989. Military airbases 99-108

Slide Numbers

HOMEFRONT/HOME GUARD

Schoolboys building air raid shelter

Shows a school master supervising the boys at Mantle Road Senior Boys' School, Leicester, as they lay the first course of the front wall of their school air raid shelter.

Reference: DE 5028/33/2

Schoolboys building air raid shelter

Shows schoolboys at Mantle Road Senior Boys' School, Leicester, watching as the stone recording their construction of the school air raid shelter is placed in position.

Reference:DE 5028/33/2

Leicester air raid shelter map

Street plan of inner Leicester showing location of public air raid shelters and times of availability.

Reference: Misc 702

Messages at ARP County Control Centre

Chart writer's report of messages received and transmitted by the ARP (Civil Defence) County Control Centre for Leicestershire recording the confusion on the morning after the Leicester Blitz. Many rescue parties from the county were sent to Leicester's ARP Headquarters at Granby Halls to help in the aftermath of the raid whilst others struggled to cope with unexploded bombs (UBs) around the county. Ref:De 2013/57

Call room occurrence book, Leicester

A record of calls received by the Fire Brigade on the night of the 'Leicester Blitz', 19th Nov 1940 between 7.50pm and 11.37pm. As the air raid progressed Auxiliary Fire Service teams from towns around the county rushed into the city to offer assistance at Brigade Headquarters.

Reference:10D58/60

ARP Warden's report forms

Civil defence measures during World War Two included recruiting volunteers to protect the local population. These reports from the Anstey Civil Defence records illustrate that their work extended beyond enforcing air raid precautions and also involved dealing with air raid damage, fires and contamination.

Reference: DE1867/4/19

Home Guard map of Charnwood Forest

Ordnance Survey 1 inch map of the Charnwood Forest area of Leicestershire used by local Home Guard. The letter 'P' marks defensive positions manned nightly by members of the Local Defence Volunteers [later known as Home Guard] and 'G' marks 'static' guards at reservoirs. 'VP' denotes 'vulnerable point' and seems to be particularly applied to bridges. 'LO' marks an observation post manned in times of low visibility.

Reference:Misc 1361

Oral history

00405/02/cd/10/025/c25

BOMBING RAIDS

AND CASUALTIES

Bomb damage at Conduit Street, Leicester

Shows rescue workers salvaging material from a house damaged by bombs probably intended for the nearby railway station on 13th July 1941. This was the last air raid suffered in Leicester.

Reference: DE5234/14

Leicester Blitz Souvenir The introduction to a published booklet entitled 'Leicester Blitz Souvenir' which contained 50 official photographs of war damage in Leicester and surrounding area. Includes photograph of burnt out factory of Messrs Freeman, Hardy & Willis, Rutland Street, Leicesterwhich was bombed on 20th Nov 1940.

Reference:DE1615/21

Civilian war death form (Front)

Official form completed at the mortuary recording the recovery of the body of a twelve year old boy who died with his parents in the Leicester Blitz on 20th Nov 1940. Name digitally removed.

Reference:15D70

Civilian war death form (back)

Official form completed at the mortuary recording the recovery of the body of a twelve year old boy who died with his parents in the Leicester Blitz on 20th Nov 1940. Lists his personal effects.

Reference:15D70

List of civilian casualties in Leicester

First page of an alphabetical list of civilian casualties in the County Borough of Leicester, sent to the Medical Officer of Health for correction in September 1949.

Reference:15D70

Police Officers at site of flying bomb

Shows Police Officers beside a crater made by the only flying bomb (V1 rocket) to land in Leicestershire. It landed at Glebe Farm, Skeffington, Leicestershire on 18th Dec.1944, inflicting only light damage.

Reference:DE5491/631/10

Leicester Mercury, 20th November 1940

The front page of The Leicester Mercury published on the day after the 'Leicester Blitz' on 20th Nov 1940 reports the event, including an unidentified photograph of firemen tackling the blaze at the factory of Messrs Freemen, Hardy & Willis in Rutland St, Leicester.

Reference: Leicester Mercury November 1940

Bombing of Belton-in-Rutland

Photograph of the Black Horse Inn taken from the Leicester

Mercury of 26th May 1942 and article researched and written by

Audrey Walker reproduced in Belton History Society Journal, vol

2 Autumn 2003

Bombing of Belton-in-Rutland

Eyewitness accounts of the bombing of Belton-in-Rutland on 25th May 1942 researched and written by Audrey Walker and reproduced in Belton History SocietyJournal, Vol 2 Autumn 2003

Bombing of Belton-in-Rutland

Report taken from the Leicester Evening Mail dated 26 May 1942

and reproduced in Belton History Society Journal, vol 2 Autumn

2003

EVACUATION

Admission register for evacuees' school

Records of an infants department of a school for evacuee children set up at Nottingham Road, Loughborough. This page lists pupils with details of date of admission, Loughborough address and address of parent or guardian.

Reference: DE1360/127

Admission register for evacuees' school

Records of an infants department of a school for evacuee children set up at Nottingham Road, Loughborough. This page lists details of date of birth, last school attended, education authority and date and cause of leaving.

Reference: DE1360/127

Death of evacuee at Hallaton

Newscutting cutting concerning the death of a six year old boy on the day after he had arrived in the village of Hallaton, Leicestershire as an evacuee. He was killed accidently by his elder brother when they were playing with a gun which they had found in a barn.

Reference: DE877/17

Entertainment organised by evacuees

Entry in log book of Hartfield Crescent Senior Girls' School, Birmingham which was evacuated to Baxter Gate Chapel, Loughborough on 10th December 1940. It describes an entertainment organised by the girls for their foster parents in May 1941 with the aim of raising funds for the Loughborough war effort and showing appreciation for all the kindness shown.

Reference:E/LB/207E

Evacuees with health problems

List of evacuated children attending Taylor Street Primary School, Leicester, who have health problems including malnutrition and rickets.The code for the remarks is given at the top of the sheet. Names digitally removed.

Reference: DE3594/14

List of evacuees' missing luggage

Luggage lost by mothers evacuated to Wigston, Leicestershire. The new address of each evacuee has been added under 'address from where evacuated’

Reference:DE877/17

Protest over evacuees compulsory billeting of

Newscutting concerning the resignation of the Chief Billeting Officer for Blaby, Leicestershire in protest against the compulsory billeting of evacuees in the area in October 1940.

Reference: DE877/17

Numbers of children and adults evacuated to Rutland

Extract from report to elementary education sub- committee listing the the numbers of children and adults evacuated from London schools to Rutland villages.

Reference:DE2257/15

Wartime evacuation to Belton-in-Rutland

Page one of John Nash’s memories of wartime evacuation to Belton-in-Rutland as reproduced in Belton History Society Journal Vol 3 summer2006

Wartime evacuation to Belton-in-Rutland

Page two of John Nash’s memories of wartime evacuation to Belton-in-Rutland as reproduced in Belton History Society Journal Vol 3 summer2006

Oral history

001419/01CD2/EV/002 001422/01cd/ev/007

PLEASE PLAY THE RECORDINGS ON SPEAKERS TO GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE

Women at War

Land Army girls and farm workers

Shows Land Army girls and farm workers working at Stoughton, Leicestershire posing for a photograph.

DE5743/5

Land girls on parade

Land girls waving from trailer during parade through University Road, Leicester. n.d. c.1945

Reference:DE5732/13

Women Timber Corps March

Members of the Women Timber Corps marching through Bristol, September 1943

Reference: DE5732/15

ORAL HISTORY

00415/01CALO/035/C35

00409/02CDL0/029/C29

Rationing

Clothing Ration Coupons

Page of clothing ration coupons taken from a ration book issued during 1939-1945

Reference: Misc 733

Petrol Coupon

Petrol coupon for two units of motor fuel issued by the Ministry of Fuel and Power with a note that it is not valid after 31 December 1949

Reference: Misc 733

Notes to expectant mothers about ration books

Detailed notes to expectant mothers about war-time benefits with the green ration books, n.d. [1940s]

Reference: Misc 723/3

Cheerful Rationing Pamphlet

Pamphlet published by The Electrical Association for women entitled “Cheerful Rationing”. Nov. 1939

Reference: Misc 933

Food Ration Coupons

Page from ration book showing food coupons issued by the Ministry of Food for the period 1948-1949

Reference: Misc 132/3

Identity Card

The government introduced National Registration Identity Cards during the war. Everyone, including children, had to carry one at all times to show who they were and where they lived. The identity card gave the owner's name and address, including changes of address. Each person was allocated a National Registration number as in this case. The local registration office stamped the card to make it valid. Reference: DE2939/6/1

POSTERS

Invasion Notice

Poster designed by Leicester College of Art for Leicester City Council during the war of1939 – 1945

Reference: Misc 38/8

Help After Air Raid

Poster designed by Leicester College of Art for Leicester City Council during the war of 1939 – 1945

Reference: Misc 38/6

Invasion Film

Poster produced by Hills of Leicester advertising a film and address about the Invasion Committee on15 Feb

DE1678/8

Invasion Film-German Defeat

Poster produced by Hills of Leicester advertising a film and address about the Defeat of the Germans near Moscow to be shown on 24 March

DE1678/15

Carnival Dance

Poster produced by Hills of Leicester advertising the Aylestone and District Working Men’s Club Carnival Dance. n.d.

DE1678/24

Civilian War Deaths

Civilian deaths recorded at Aylestone Baths Mortuary –sheet 1

The registrar’s department acted as the mortuary office during WW2. This is the first of several sheets listing civilian deaths recorded at the Aylestone Baths Mortuary as a result of the ‘Leicester Blitz’ on 20 November 1940

Reference:DE 2372/70

Civilian deaths recorded at Aylestone Baths Mortuary –sheet 2

Continuation of civilian war deaths recorded at the Aylestone Baths Mortuary as a result of the ‘Leicester Blitz’ on 20 November 1940

Reference : DE2372/69

Civilian deaths recorded at Aylestone Baths Mortuary –sheet 3

Continuation of civilian war deaths recorded at the Aylestone Baths Mortuary as a result of the ‘Leicester Blitz’ on 20 November 1940

Reference : DE2372/68

Civilian deaths recorded at Aylestone Baths Mortuary –sheet 4

Continuation of civilian war deaths recorded at the Aylestone Baths Mortuary as a result of the ‘Leicester Blitz’ on 20 November 1940

Reference : DE2372/67

Civilian deaths recorded at Aylestone Baths Mortuary –sheet 5

Continuation of civilian war deaths recorded at the Aylestone Baths

Mortuary as a result of the ‘Leicester Blitz’ on 20 November 1940

Reference : DE2372/66

Civilian deaths recorded at Crumbie Stand Mortuary- sheet 1

Civilian deaths recorded at another city mortuary- Crumbie Stand as a result of bombing activity on 21 August 1940

Reference DE2372/73

Civilian deaths recorded at Crumbie Stand Mortuary- sheet 2

Civilian deaths recorded at another city mortuary- Crumbie Stand as a result

of bombing activity on 14 September 1940

Reference DE2372/74

Leicester civilian war dead- page 1

This is the first of 7 pages of civilian war dead for the city of Leicester which

was compiled by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Full names,

addresses, ages and next of kin are given. Details of burials, cremations and

grave plots have been added by the City Cemeteries Department Reference: 15D70

Leicester Civilian war dead-page 2

Continuation of civilian war dead for the city of Leicester Reference DE15D70

Leicester civilian war dead-page3

Continuation of civilian war dead for the city of Leicester

Reference DE15D70

Leicester civilian war dead-page 4

Continuation of civilian war dead for the city of Leicester

Reference DE15D70

Leicester civilian war dead-page 5

Continuation of civilian war dead for the city of Leicester Reference DE15D70

Leicester civilian war dead–page 6

Continuation of civilian war dead for the city of Leicester

Reference DE15D70

Leicester civilian war dead-page 7

Continuation of civilian war dead for the city of Leicester

Reference DE15D70

Military War Deaths

Roll of Honour for Lutterworth

Roll of Honour for the men of Lutterworth who it is assumed lost their lives

during the 1939-1945 war

Reference: DE4336/64

Admission and discharge register for Bosworth Park Infirmary

This infirmary formerly the ancestral home of the Dixie family was used to house injured military personnel during the 1939-1945 war. Note a lot of theentries in column disease are shrapnel wounds

Reference DE3300/105

Newscuttings of War Casualties

Newspaper cuttings of local Leicestershire lads who were killed or injured during the 1939-1945 war

Reference DE5377/27

Military Airbases

Photograph of Bruntingthorpe R.A.F.

Group photograph in front of the Wellington bomber at the Air Training Corps

annual training at Bruntingthorpe RAF Station. Flight Lieutenant J.H. Pettit is

the Liaison officer, August 1944

Reference: DE3799/92

Fates of 207 squadron crew captains

Page reproduced from scrapbook of S/O Marie Cooper a WAAF intelligence officer at Bottesford, showing the fates of crew captains on 207 squadron Reference: L358.4 pg13

Crash Log for Rutland-page 1

First page of the crash log for Rutland, 1938-1941 compiled by John Rennison and published in his book,’ Wings Over Rutland’.

Reference: L385.4 p145

Crash Log for Rutland-page 2

Second page of the crash log for Rutland, 1941-1942 compiled by John Rennison and published in his book,’ Wings Over Rutland’.

Reference: L385.4 p146

Crash Log for Rutland-page 3

Third page of the crash log for Rutland, 1942-1944 compiled by John Rennison and published in his book,’ Wings Over Rutland’.

Reference: L385.4 p147

Crash Log for Rutland-page 4

Fourth page of the crash log for Rutland, 1944-1948 compiled by John Rennison and published in his book,’ Wings Over Rutland’.

Reference: L385.4 p148

Crash Log for Rutland-page 5

Fifth page of the crash log for Rutland, 1948-1973 compiled by John Rennison and published in his book,’ Wings Over Rutland’.

Reference: L385.4 p149

R.A.F.buried at Cottesmore-page 1

Name, rank, number, comments and date of burial of R.A.F. personnel who

are buried at Cottesmore, published by John Rennison in his book, “Wings

over Rutland”, 1939-1942

Reference: L 385.4 p150

R.A.F.buried at Cottesmore-page 2

Name, rank, number, comments and date of burial of R.A.F. personnel who are

buried at Cottesmore, published by John Rennison in his book, “Wings over

Rutland”, 1942-1945

Reference: L 385.4 p151