WW2 Memories of John Rushbrook

The War Agricultural Executive Committee (known as The War Ag) sent prisoners of war onto farms to work. My memory is of the Threshing Tackle Owned by Horace George) coming to our farm to thresh (usually pronounced 'thrash') the corn stacks. There were three prisoners, one of had carved this little bird and he personally gave it to me. I was probably only 3 years old.

Things I Heard -- At the same time of the two bombs in Wetherden a third fell at Sulyards Farm, this exploded about 2am the next morning.

I remember my father speaking of an aircraft overshooting the runway on Gt Ashfield aerodrome, ending up nose first in a ditch beside the Upper Town road. At another time an aircraft landed with badly damaged brakes, ending up in a field near Haugh Road Gt Ashfield, sadly killing a worker in the field.

Another incident occurred when a plane was being loaded with bombs, something ignited causing a huge explosion. All airmen were able to evacuate the vicinity safely, but half a mile away the roof of the stables at Upper Town Farm was quite badly damaged.

Some of the aircraft were only a few yards from the public road, taking advantage of this, when the young airmen saw the local postman cycling past, they would rev the aero engines seeking to blow his hat off, sometimes they succeeded!