Thompson and Griston during WW2

Peter was born in March 1938. He remembers a barrage balloon over his house and the village of Thompson meeting at the shop corner and going into large American trucks. They were taken to a Christmas party at Griston camp where there were oranges, bananas, and large plates of food. He did the washing for Gladys Lister.

Italian prisoners of war were brought into the village to work, and a mobile kitchen was brought into the meadow.

The wooden plane was given to a local woman, Mrs. Smith, in exchange for a half dozen eggs by an American from RAF Honington. It was later in possession of her son, Arthur Smith. The Smiths lived at West Farm, Barnham.

This story was shared during an in-person interview at a Digital Collection Day. A transcription of the interview is attached to this record.