Archdeacon's Tale III

EAST TRENT CHURCHES
Besthorpe, Clifton, Collingham,
Girton, Harby, Holme, Langford, South Scarle, Thorney, Winthorpe

The Archdeacon's Tale! (A World War II Story) By J Eric Ashton

Part III: Godiva Rides Again!

"We aren't the only ones suffering", she would exclaim. "Only the other day I had news from a friend in Newark-on-Trent, saying her daughter Katie was machine gunned by a German aircraft whilst cycling to war-work at . . . (Sshh! - 'Walls have Ears', you know!). Her mother had also seen a stick of five bombs leave the aircraft - 'like a string of sausages', she said. They landed on the bearing factory (whoops! sorry, forget I said that) killing dozens of workers. Anyway, Katie wasn't badly hurt, but two bullets went through her coat and she fell off her bike due to fright. Now, her mother wasn't best pleased and gave her a sound ticking off for damaging her coat. There was of course a problem with finding clothing coupons needed to replace it. But it was the shock, you see, m'duck."

Then there was a second friend's story reminding her about that other town associated with Lady Godiva: the city of Coventry. She was a Red Cross Nurse and her husband an ex-army man. In addition to working in one of the local armament factories he was also an officer in the Home Guard. "In fact, he must have been important because he was allocated an official car, an Austin 7 it was, and a special allowance of petrol coupons. Their nephew, a cub-scout, was given a ride in it once but he had to duck down behind the back seats (not easy in an Austin 7!) in case he was spotted receiving an illicit lift!" These good people sent a monthly letter together with their Parish Magazine to over a hundred local men and women who were serving their country at home or overseas. This was a welcome lifeline from home, and many responded personally with appreciation. The officer used to sign himself Oxo. Oxo and his wife frequently acted as a channel of communication for them and their relatives, with local news ("Cautiously selected information of course - 'Careless Talk Costs Lives!'") good, bad, or indifferent; often saving a marriage or consoling a lover; or tenderly counselling anxious or bereaved relatives. It was always open house at Church Road. The kettle was invariably on for a cup of tea; and regularly a game of mah-jongg (or is it mah-jong?) was arranged in an effort to soothe disturbed 'characters', temper enforced 'winds' of change, or tip the scales of wartime 'dragons'!

"However, to return to the story; one night their house, together with all the others on one side of the street, was destroyed by a German landmine. This, in spite of, or perhaps because of, the fact that an anti-aircraft gun battery, and a barrage balloon flight were stationed at the top of their road. (Oh! I shouldn't have said that; but anyway they've been moved since). Fortunately Major and Nurse O were out on their respective war duties at the time, otherwise . . . And, guess what, the new St George's Church at the end of their road suffered little or no damage. A couple of miracles! But Coventry Cathedral, and all the shops in Corporation Street down in the City were completely destroyed in the raids. However, Holy Trinity Church next door (which you can almost stroke from the Cathedral) remained unscathed. Another miracle! Mr and Mrs Oxo were immediately re-housed in a street at the top of West Hill. And the City shopkeepers sold their wares from trestle tables among the rubble the following morning. There's tenacity for you. But it leaves a bit of a taste in one's mouth, doesn't it?"

"And have you heard that Buckingham Palace has been bombed? . . . Follow the link below for more about The Archdeacon's Tale!

Like to see Part IV 'Bath Night!' . . . next?

Our Priest in Charge of East Trent Churches & the Editorial Team thank our 91,734 page-visitors for supporting us up to beginning of July, 2010

Find a page > > > Contents

If you quote or print anything from this Web-site please add a link to AnglicanCollinghamChurches.org in your Website. Thanks.

Webmaster and Editor Dr J Eric Ashton

To e-mail the Priest in Charge of the East Trent Churches Click : Priest in Charge

Click here to find Links to Other Sites

This site was last updated on 24 July 2010.

You may find our special effects work best with the Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser