The six years 1939-45 were a time of hardship, change, excitement
and tragedy for the residents of Cholsey, a village in rural Berkshire . Rationing, the black-out and shortages
affected everyone, while many feared for their loved ones away in the forces. Some of those who could not fight volunteered
in the village, becoming members of the Home Guard, Land Army, the Air Raid
Protection (ARP) force or the Auxiliary Fire Service.
But for 12 men, as listed on Cholsey war memorials, it would be the end of their lives. They were career military men, conscripts and those who volunteered following the outbreak of war, and their ranks ranged from Private to Sergeant Major and Flight Lieutenant. Several died in the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force to
Based on extensive new research, this work is a record for posterity of the sacrifices made at home and abroad of a generation that rose to an almighty challenge.
Book contents
Author’s
note
CHAPTER 1
Start of the
war
William
Charles Boshier 31 July 1918 – 26 May 1940
CHAPTER 2
Evacuees,
the census and fund-raising
Arthur
Dennis Deane 1916 – 27 May 1940
CHAPTER 3
Rationing
John Oliver
Francis December 1912 – 30 May 1940
CHAPTER 4
Air Raid
Precautions (ARP)
Ivor Leonard
Lillington 14 December 1901 – 1 June 1940
CHAPTER 5
The threat
of invasion
Edgar Peter
Taylor May 1918 – 18 May 1941
CHAPTER 6
The Home
Guard
Peter Arnold
Bitmead 16 Nov 1921 – 16 Nov 1941
Edward
William Bitmead 29 Dec 1911 – 1 May 1943
CHAPTER 7
The Blitz
and the Auxiliary Fire Service
George Derek
Rayner Slade 14 Nov 1913 - 21 Apr 1943
CHAPTER 8
Clothes
rationing, food and harvest
Frederick
Edward Ray 26 January 1914 – 12 September 1944
CHAPTER 9
Cholsey
school, the children and amateur dramatics
Edgar Thomas
Pridham 12 Oct 1912 – 28 Dec 1944
CHAPTER 10
The Mental
Hospital and nearby military camps
Harold
Leonard Strange 10 January 1922 – 8 September 1944
CHAPTER 11
Local
bombing and an air disaster
Albert
William R Shakespeare 24 January 1911 – 7 June 1944
EPILOGUE
VE Day and
VJ Day
APPENDIX
Summary of those killed in action
Picture credits and information sources
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