Memories of an ARP Warden and a Fireman

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posted on 2024-06-05, 19:51 authored by Their Finest Hour Project Team

I was born in Denby Road, Coventry in 1939. We moved from there when I was about 18 months old, when a bomb dropped on the road.

Like a lot of other people who lost their homes, we came to Leamington and lived in a flat at 14 Willes Road. My only memory of the war was going out into the garden and picking up a piece of shrapnel.

My uncle, my father's brother-in-law, George Sidney Jakeman was in the Fire Service. He also served in the ARP, and we have his certificates.

My father, Frank Underwood, worked as a riveter at Armstrong Whitley, at Baginton. He cycled there and back, every day, from Leamington.

History

Item list and details

1. City of Coventry certificate of appointment of G S Jakeman as Air Raid Warden 2. Reverse of above, noting conditions of award 3. Fire Service Staff photograph, including Mr Jakeman 4. National Fire Service Certificate awarded to Firemen GS Jakeman 5. ARP Department letter dated 27 April 1939, to GS Jakeman confirming his appointment as Senior Warden, Radford Division 6. Badges and insignia, Fire Brigade and ARP 7. ARP Certificates and badges relating to G S Jakeman; Fire Service photograph also relating to GS Jakeman

Person the story/items relate to

Jacqueline Nash, Frank Underwood, her father and her uncle, George Sidney Jakeman

Person who shared the story/items

Jacqueline Nash

Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor

Jacqueline Nash is Frank's Daughter and G S Jakeman's niece

Type of submission

Shared at Ahmadiyyah Mosque Hall, Warwickshire on 7 October 2023. The event was organised by Leamington History Group.

Record ID

94636 | LEA058-2

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CC BY 4.0

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