Hatfield heath village magazine
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In response to requests we're adding an option for you to download a copy of the magazine. This will allow you to magnify to a greater extent than the "viewer" allows. Simply click on the link below. Please note that due to the website's restrictions on file sizes this may be a lower resolution than the one above.
| 01-_january_2021_.pdf |
This is the full version of the extracts that appear in the January 2021 magazine
War time memories of a school boy in Hatfield Heath by Robin Whitbread.
At the age of 2 in 1937 I moved with my mother and father to Hatfield Heath. My mother had been the district nurse in Matching Green and she took up this role in Hatfield Heath.
We lived in Mill Cottage which stands at the back of the cricket pitch. My mother soon after our arrival had to give up nursing through ill health (rheumatoid arthritis) and my father died of TB in 1942.
I remember the war years very well and in recalling some instances and stories to Mrs. Whybrew she persuaded me to put pen to paper. At the age of 85 she probably thought that I had better do it now before it is too late!
My earliest memories of a war situation and possibly of an invasion was the fact that a gun mounting was built next to our house. There was always a fear of a gas attack and an early warning device was placed in the village and gas masks were issued. Food rationing and ration books were introduced so that we received our fair share, and there was also an issue of clothing coupons.
Although our house had no facilities it was quite large and this in itself would have prompted the war ministry to take full advantage.
Upstairs two ladies, Mrs. Faulkner and Mrs. Collins were employed to work on machines making stockings for the WRENs, the WAFS and the WRACs. For obvious reasons this work was important for our war effort and not least for the two ladies who must have felt that they were playing their part.
Could it have been that Hitler realised this and had instructed the luftwaffe to bomb our house or was the £500 bomb intended for the glass factory? It may well have been thought that more was going on there than making glass bottles as it was claimed. It stood where Hunters Meet now stands. The bomb could have been dropped at random on the way home as many were. We will never know. We certainly had a very narrow escape and luckily suffered no damage. Some houses on the other side of the village, however, had broken windows and an American service man was killed as he walked along the Matching Green road.
In the morning a very large crater was revealed on what was the cricket pitch. School boys, including Mike Saban and others from Ardley Crescent, were also seen in the morning scrabbling about in the depths of the crater looking for souvenirs. They were late for school but claimed this was because they had to walk through the crater to get there. Mr. Dix, the Headmaster, was not impressed and rebuked them in front of the whole school at assembly. Apart from being late for school, there was real danger involved in handling hot and sharp shrapnel. Mike was laughing as he recalled the story recently but he was not laughing as he faced the ire of Mr. Dix.
A prisoner of war camp was built round about 1942 and Italian prisoners were soon in residence. We were told not to go anywhere near the camp by Mr. Dix who called us all to assembly. We were also told to keep our distance when they were marched by the Home Guard to and fro through the village to work on the farms. I think that he may have thought that they may still pose a threat.
He need not have worried – they were soon mixing with the villagers walking unattended to the farms in ones and twos and thrashing our local football team. They loved the freedom of the camp, the comfort and just to be here! Upon reflection, I think they may have been pleased to show us round. Funnily enough I never ever went to see the camp until I went on a conducted tour with Robin Gurnett.
We were, in our cottage, together with our neighbours Mr and Mrs. Smith concerned for our own safety from our side. This happened when the Home Guard practised firing a field gun from just in front of the church at a target set up on the other side of the village - It was thought that an invasion would approach along the Matching Green Road. The shells were to pass over the cricket pitch and just in front of our house – not much room for bad marksmanship or a stray shell.
Blossom (Mr. Searle) had ribbed the Home Guard by saying that the target would never be hit no matter how big they made it and indeed that area would be the safest place to be in the village. I remember on the first occasion standing behind the gun and I have to say that their accuracy never faltered. They became so confident that
they boasted a cricket match could be played on the green as the shells passed overhead. Blossom had to eat his words.
There was always a certain excitement for us lads during these years. I remember finding, with a couple of other boys, what we thought was an unexploded bomb half buried in a ditch down the Hatfield Broad Oak road. This was certainly an exciting moment for a time but it turned out to be a false alarm. However, Mr. Dix praised us for our vigilance in front of the whole class. We felt very important.
We rushed on one occasion to see a military aircraft which had landed safely after suffering engine failure in a field off the Stortford Road. We often went over to the aerodrome in Matching Green to see the American marauders. These aircraft apparently were difficult to fly particularly with a heavy load and unsteady to manoeuvre on the ground. They were not popular with the crews. We watched them bouncing up and down on the firing range. The noise was ear splitting but what excitement.
A frightening moment for the village came when one of these aircraft crashed on fire just missing Mr. Dix’s bungalow on the Chelmsford Road. Bringing down trees and with shells bursting it careered over the road severely damaging a property opposite before coming to rest in a cloud of billowing smoke and flames. Everyone was kept well away and the road was closed for a long time.
As far as I remember only two other properties suffered damage. These were two adjoining cottages next to the annexe which were completely obliterated by a bomb. They belonged to the district nurse who happened to be out attending a patient and her next -door neighbours, Mr and Mrs. Bayford who also were lucky to be out visiting family.
Lights were never to be displayed no matter how small for fear of attracting enemy bombers. However, an electrical fault on a farm down the Hatfield Broad Oak road caused sparks to cascade into the air like a firework display. This attracted the luftwaffe as bees round a honeypot and the area was heavily bombed.
I do not ever recall seeing enemy aircraft in our skies or ones that had crashed. I do however remember hearing their distinctive engine noise as they flew over at night. Their sound seemed to waver in pitch whereas our aircrafts were constant. The doodlebug sound was unmistakeable and really frightening – it was a roar of a lion. On balance it was better to hear it as once the engine cut out it could fall on you. English war planes were often seen as you would expect. I remember on one occasion when the sky was black with aircraft, some towing gliders. What a sight.
Band
At about the age of 9 I was involved in an incident that was to pave the way to a career in music.- both as a performer and teacher. I fell off my bicycle in front of Gilbert Hutchins bungalow. I was intrigued to hear Gilbert’s son Lesley being given a lesson on the euphonium. Gilbert gave me a go on the cornet and from that instant I became involved in brass instruments.
Together with Lesley Hutchins, Ival Jones and David Sylvester we became founder members of the Hatfield Heath band. This was conducted by Gilbert Hutchins in the annexe.
One man and his dog
A man riding home from work every day was greeted by his dog Sally at the crossroads in Hatfield Heath. They would make the rest of the journey home together – he riding his bicycle and the dog trotting alongside. Sadly, one day the man was not there. He had died, I do not know how or why or whether it was war related. I think it was the Goddards from Clipped Hedge who took Sally under their care. Each evening she made her way to the crossroads to the same spot and at the same time and just waited. She stayed until collected and did this for the remainder of her life – true devotion.
Village Hall
The village hall was very important to the village with frequent concerts and entertainments given by local people and visitors. Before one of these events, it was rumoured that we were to be honoured by the presence of a very special guest. On the night there was buzz of excitement in the hall and it was packed. After a few items the compere came on stage and announced- “and now ladies and gentlemen our special guest has arrived and it is the moment you have all been waiting for- please welcome…” – would you believe it! at that very moment the lights fused and the hall was in complete darkness. Directed by a man with a torch our visitor undeterred made his way to the middle of the stage. His voice was unmistakable and we were all stunned “I just had to come and see you in Hatfield Heath and to congratulate you all on your spirit and resolve to stem the hand of the aggressor”. It was Winston Churchill. He went on to say what an example we were to the whole country and then finished with a few words about the war itself. “I wish I could stay longer but I am required back at the War Office for a very important meeting even at this late hour. It has been an honour and I shall always remember my visit. Good bye and good luck to you all”. He was escorted as he departed the stage and disappeared. Then miraculously the lights came on and the hall clapped and cheered him on his way.
There was often a presence of the English military personnel on the heath and on several occasions, American soldiers camped on the green. They had a very joyous and carefree attitude to life – even when they faced the possibility of hard and dangerous times ahead. They were warm hearted and generous and we were always given candies and gum.
A great excitement for the village lads was being offered rides in their jeeps. There was an air of the ‘fairground’ as they whizzed us round the village not caring where we went either down the road or over bumpy ground off the green. They were always very welcome.
To celebrate the end of the war a bonfire, erected on a wooden frame, was built on the village green. You could and we did, walk through and under it. (before it was lit!). It seemed as though the whole village was involved in its construction adding whatever they could. I know distance lends enchantment but it was the biggest ever made – believe me! When it was set alight it could have been seen throughout Germany – just as we wanted.
Mr. Churchill spoke with admiration of how Hatfield Heath met the challenges of the war but he could have added that it was a reaching out and caring community. I can speak from personal experience of how our family and others benefited from many instances of kindness to get by.
These events happened a long time ago when I was very young. Others may remember things differently and correct me in detail here and there. |I don’t mind that at all and I am grateful to Mrs. Whybrew who persuaded me to write my account.
War time memories of a school boy in Hatfield Heath by Robin Whitbread.
At the age of 2 in 1937 I moved with my mother and father to Hatfield Heath. My mother had been the district nurse in Matching Green and she took up this role in Hatfield Heath.
We lived in Mill Cottage which stands at the back of the cricket pitch. My mother soon after our arrival had to give up nursing through ill health (rheumatoid arthritis) and my father died of TB in 1942.
I remember the war years very well and in recalling some instances and stories to Mrs. Whybrew she persuaded me to put pen to paper. At the age of 85 she probably thought that I had better do it now before it is too late!
My earliest memories of a war situation and possibly of an invasion was the fact that a gun mounting was built next to our house. There was always a fear of a gas attack and an early warning device was placed in the village and gas masks were issued. Food rationing and ration books were introduced so that we received our fair share, and there was also an issue of clothing coupons.
Although our house had no facilities it was quite large and this in itself would have prompted the war ministry to take full advantage.
Upstairs two ladies, Mrs. Faulkner and Mrs. Collins were employed to work on machines making stockings for the WRENs, the WAFS and the WRACs. For obvious reasons this work was important for our war effort and not least for the two ladies who must have felt that they were playing their part.
Could it have been that Hitler realised this and had instructed the luftwaffe to bomb our house or was the £500 bomb intended for the glass factory? It may well have been thought that more was going on there than making glass bottles as it was claimed. It stood where Hunters Meet now stands. The bomb could have been dropped at random on the way home as many were. We will never know. We certainly had a very narrow escape and luckily suffered no damage. Some houses on the other side of the village, however, had broken windows and an American service man was killed as he walked along the Matching Green road.
In the morning a very large crater was revealed on what was the cricket pitch. School boys, including Mike Saban and others from Ardley Crescent, were also seen in the morning scrabbling about in the depths of the crater looking for souvenirs. They were late for school but claimed this was because they had to walk through the crater to get there. Mr. Dix, the Headmaster, was not impressed and rebuked them in front of the whole school at assembly. Apart from being late for school, there was real danger involved in handling hot and sharp shrapnel. Mike was laughing as he recalled the story recently but he was not laughing as he faced the ire of Mr. Dix.
A prisoner of war camp was built round about 1942 and Italian prisoners were soon in residence. We were told not to go anywhere near the camp by Mr. Dix who called us all to assembly. We were also told to keep our distance when they were marched by the Home Guard to and fro through the village to work on the farms. I think that he may have thought that they may still pose a threat.
He need not have worried – they were soon mixing with the villagers walking unattended to the farms in ones and twos and thrashing our local football team. They loved the freedom of the camp, the comfort and just to be here! Upon reflection, I think they may have been pleased to show us round. Funnily enough I never ever went to see the camp until I went on a conducted tour with Robin Gurnett.
We were, in our cottage, together with our neighbours Mr and Mrs. Smith concerned for our own safety from our side. This happened when the Home Guard practised firing a field gun from just in front of the church at a target set up on the other side of the village - It was thought that an invasion would approach along the Matching Green Road. The shells were to pass over the cricket pitch and just in front of our house – not much room for bad marksmanship or a stray shell.
Blossom (Mr. Searle) had ribbed the Home Guard by saying that the target would never be hit no matter how big they made it and indeed that area would be the safest place to be in the village. I remember on the first occasion standing behind the gun and I have to say that their accuracy never faltered. They became so confident that
they boasted a cricket match could be played on the green as the shells passed overhead. Blossom had to eat his words.
There was always a certain excitement for us lads during these years. I remember finding, with a couple of other boys, what we thought was an unexploded bomb half buried in a ditch down the Hatfield Broad Oak road. This was certainly an exciting moment for a time but it turned out to be a false alarm. However, Mr. Dix praised us for our vigilance in front of the whole class. We felt very important.
We rushed on one occasion to see a military aircraft which had landed safely after suffering engine failure in a field off the Stortford Road. We often went over to the aerodrome in Matching Green to see the American marauders. These aircraft apparently were difficult to fly particularly with a heavy load and unsteady to manoeuvre on the ground. They were not popular with the crews. We watched them bouncing up and down on the firing range. The noise was ear splitting but what excitement.
A frightening moment for the village came when one of these aircraft crashed on fire just missing Mr. Dix’s bungalow on the Chelmsford Road. Bringing down trees and with shells bursting it careered over the road severely damaging a property opposite before coming to rest in a cloud of billowing smoke and flames. Everyone was kept well away and the road was closed for a long time.
As far as I remember only two other properties suffered damage. These were two adjoining cottages next to the annexe which were completely obliterated by a bomb. They belonged to the district nurse who happened to be out attending a patient and her next -door neighbours, Mr and Mrs. Bayford who also were lucky to be out visiting family.
Lights were never to be displayed no matter how small for fear of attracting enemy bombers. However, an electrical fault on a farm down the Hatfield Broad Oak road caused sparks to cascade into the air like a firework display. This attracted the luftwaffe as bees round a honeypot and the area was heavily bombed.
I do not ever recall seeing enemy aircraft in our skies or ones that had crashed. I do however remember hearing their distinctive engine noise as they flew over at night. Their sound seemed to waver in pitch whereas our aircrafts were constant. The doodlebug sound was unmistakeable and really frightening – it was a roar of a lion. On balance it was better to hear it as once the engine cut out it could fall on you. English war planes were often seen as you would expect. I remember on one occasion when the sky was black with aircraft, some towing gliders. What a sight.
Band
At about the age of 9 I was involved in an incident that was to pave the way to a career in music.- both as a performer and teacher. I fell off my bicycle in front of Gilbert Hutchins bungalow. I was intrigued to hear Gilbert’s son Lesley being given a lesson on the euphonium. Gilbert gave me a go on the cornet and from that instant I became involved in brass instruments.
Together with Lesley Hutchins, Ival Jones and David Sylvester we became founder members of the Hatfield Heath band. This was conducted by Gilbert Hutchins in the annexe.
One man and his dog
A man riding home from work every day was greeted by his dog Sally at the crossroads in Hatfield Heath. They would make the rest of the journey home together – he riding his bicycle and the dog trotting alongside. Sadly, one day the man was not there. He had died, I do not know how or why or whether it was war related. I think it was the Goddards from Clipped Hedge who took Sally under their care. Each evening she made her way to the crossroads to the same spot and at the same time and just waited. She stayed until collected and did this for the remainder of her life – true devotion.
Village Hall
The village hall was very important to the village with frequent concerts and entertainments given by local people and visitors. Before one of these events, it was rumoured that we were to be honoured by the presence of a very special guest. On the night there was buzz of excitement in the hall and it was packed. After a few items the compere came on stage and announced- “and now ladies and gentlemen our special guest has arrived and it is the moment you have all been waiting for- please welcome…” – would you believe it! at that very moment the lights fused and the hall was in complete darkness. Directed by a man with a torch our visitor undeterred made his way to the middle of the stage. His voice was unmistakable and we were all stunned “I just had to come and see you in Hatfield Heath and to congratulate you all on your spirit and resolve to stem the hand of the aggressor”. It was Winston Churchill. He went on to say what an example we were to the whole country and then finished with a few words about the war itself. “I wish I could stay longer but I am required back at the War Office for a very important meeting even at this late hour. It has been an honour and I shall always remember my visit. Good bye and good luck to you all”. He was escorted as he departed the stage and disappeared. Then miraculously the lights came on and the hall clapped and cheered him on his way.
There was often a presence of the English military personnel on the heath and on several occasions, American soldiers camped on the green. They had a very joyous and carefree attitude to life – even when they faced the possibility of hard and dangerous times ahead. They were warm hearted and generous and we were always given candies and gum.
A great excitement for the village lads was being offered rides in their jeeps. There was an air of the ‘fairground’ as they whizzed us round the village not caring where we went either down the road or over bumpy ground off the green. They were always very welcome.
To celebrate the end of the war a bonfire, erected on a wooden frame, was built on the village green. You could and we did, walk through and under it. (before it was lit!). It seemed as though the whole village was involved in its construction adding whatever they could. I know distance lends enchantment but it was the biggest ever made – believe me! When it was set alight it could have been seen throughout Germany – just as we wanted.
Mr. Churchill spoke with admiration of how Hatfield Heath met the challenges of the war but he could have added that it was a reaching out and caring community. I can speak from personal experience of how our family and others benefited from many instances of kindness to get by.
These events happened a long time ago when I was very young. Others may remember things differently and correct me in detail here and there. |I don’t mind that at all and I am grateful to Mrs. Whybrew who persuaded me to write my account.
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