The Second World War: Barnsley's Story (Part 2)

Alexander Hollingsworth (Australian) Captain of the Whitley Bomber that crashed at Pogmoor in January 1942.

The Crew Sergeant Edward Brain (Canadian) – survived the war.

Sergeant Alexander Buchanan (Canadian) – died in the Pogmoor crash as he was too late opening his parachute.

Sergeant John Toker (British) – died 1942.

Sergeant Leonard Jackson (British) – died 1942.

ARP Helmet Air Raid Protection wardens were responsible for making sure that everyone took cover during an air raid and also reported any damage, injuries and fatalities afterwards. They also made sure that blackout conditions were met both at home and when people were moving around.

They could issue fines and report people who breached blackout conditions. Some people felt that ARP wardens exceeded their role at times.

Men and women were both employed as ARP wardens, with men being paid ÂŁ3 per week and women ÂŁ2 per week.

Many people talk about watching Sheffield being bombed, however there were instances where Barnsley also suffered. Some factories including the Barugh Green Chemical Works were hit.

On loan from Paul Reed.

Shrapnel & ARP Badge This piece of shrapnel was once owned by Jim Ibsen. Jim was an Air Raid Protection warden during the war and was nearly struck by this piece of shrapnel just as he had finished his shift.

He stepped inside his house and the shrapnel hit his front doorstep breaking it in half.

Shrapnel is the result of exploded anti-aircraft shells which were fired during air raids to damage enemy aircraft. The debris (shrapnel) often fell to the ground and could be deadly.

People wore tin hats during the war for protection against falling debris.

Wedding Dress & Veil A wedding was a great opportunity to rally round and spend time with loved ones.

On 17th June 1943 Eileen Briggs married Harold Townend. Eileen had worked at the department store Butterfield’s and the fabric for the dress was put aside for her. Some of her colleagues pooled their coupons so that she could purchase the fabric. Eileen’s mother, Hilda, was a dressmaker and made the dress for her.

The veil is made from Bruges lace.

Harold worked for the Special Operations Executive who were often parachuted into enemy territory to work with resistance groups and disrupt enemy operations.

Final Love Letter Many love affairs were carried out via letter during the war. These letters were sent from Walter Bramwell to Jean Edger and form a record of their courtship.

Walter (born 1920) from Hoyland Common became a Flight Engineer in the RAF and went on bombing raids over Germany. Jean was from Birdwell and worked in Sheffield. Walter advised her to join the Women’s Land Army to avoid being drafted into the Armed Forces but she seems to have worked in a factory.

On 1st May 1943 Walter wrote to Jean to ask her to marry him and she agreed. On 31st May the RAF sent a letter to Walter’s mother to say that he was Missing in Action. The letter displayed here is the one that Walter wrote to Jean to be sent in the event of his death. He says that he would never have left her from choice.

Group of Polish Army Items These items belonged to Stanislaw Zasada, a young Polish man who bravely offered to take his sister’s place in a labour camp. When he left there he joined the Polish Army and eventually came to Britain to fight on the side of the Allied Forces. After the war, Stanislaw worked as an engineer for Wentworth Silkstone Colliery.

There was a military encampment at Cannon Hall just outside Barnsley which was used by Canadian, American and Polish soldiers during the war. At the end of the war the camp was changed into a settlement camp for any Polish nationals wishing to stay in Britain. Poland had been annexed by Germany making it impossible for Poles to return to their homeland. The Polish community in Barnsley is still strong today.

Miners’ Payslips These payslips were for Willie Hawksworth, a miner at Rockingham Colliery, and Wilfrid Cooper from the Old Silkstone Collieries.

In 1943 Wilfrid got 4 shillings and 6 pence per shift with the addition of 4 shillings and 5 pence a week for war work. This was a way of increasing miners’ relatively low pay for the duration of the war without committing to long-term pay increases.

Miners initially had their pay docked if they were late for a shift because of an air raid. This was stopped as the war progressed as it was seen as unfair. Miners also had their holiday allowance reduced from a week to a long weekend in the early years of the war to increase productivity. Some miners would spend their holidays camping on farms helping to bring in the harvest. Many said that they enjoyed the daylight and a better supply of food.