Memories from the Farm: A Family's Journey Through War

The contributor’s grandfather had a farm and a village bakery. His father Arthur (aged 40) was in Home Guard and remained on the farm, due to age. His younger brother was called up. The farm was in Bulkington near Nuneaton. The Bramcote Airfield was next to the farm where two Polish pilots based there crashed but survived. Possibly Hurricanes were involved in the crash.

Arthur was a Sergeant in the Home Guard. The contributor related a story of an exercise when Nuneaton Home Guard decided one weekend that they had to defend a Council House against invaders. Bulkington Home Guard were tasked to attack as the mock enemy, so Arthur used his bread van to conduct a covert successful, unopposed attack on the defending Home Guard in Nuneaton! The Home Guard were based in Weston Hall in Bulkington. The Church Father next door repeatedly left lights burning and they had to get him to comply with blackout by going around there.

Arthur also supplied bread to Italian POWs next door at Marston Javvet camp and these POWs dug drainage ditches on the farm. Also, a German POW, Conrad Pfeiffer settled and worked on farm until 1950s when he went to Coventry for work.

A Land Girl (Edith) on the farm also married Arthur's brother Bill.

Around 1952, Arthur bought a diesel tractor but Conrad (Former POW) knew the engine inside out, which shows WWII German technical advancement. He brought his German girlfriend to settle in the area post-war.

There are many photos, including Home Guard certificate of service for Arthur, ID and clothing ration books.