Christmas Carols (1940-1941)

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:02:46 +0000

My elder brother Peter and I arrived in Lighthorne from Coventry at the time of the Blitz and were given a home by Mr & Mrs Camm of 11 The Bank. Their son, Bert, was away in the Army serving as an ambulance driver in the Middle East. Mrs Camm played the church organ at St. Lawrence’s church with Mr Camm the leading bass singer in the choir. Consequently, Peter and I became choristers there. Local lad George Smith became the third boy soprano. At Christmastide we were soloists as the ‘Three Kings of Orient Far’. Peter brought frankincense, George gold, and me myrrh. Weddings, funerals and concerts earned us sixpence (old money) each, which was put aside in an account and paid out when we finally left the village to return to Coventry. The vicar at that time was the Reverend Collier.

We were aware of the Verneys living in the village in the big house by the green adjoining the Malthouse. The Malthouse was used as the Village Hall and attracted many USA airmen from nearby Gaydon aerodrome to the local dances. At our age, Mr Verney was Mr Verney to whom we deferred. The gentry in those days did not have first names. So which Verney it was remains a mystery.

At Christmas time our little church choir would do a tour of the ‘Big Houses’ to sing carols, transported by Mr Verney in his Austin 10 in to which we were all crammed. Where we went remains a mystery, largely because black out restrictions were in force and we journeyed along narrow country lanes with slitted, dimmed, downward pointing headlights. It all became rather spooky.

However, Compton Verney remains stuck in our minds due to the name association which confirmed to us city kids that we were in the presence of important people and the need to be on our best behaviour. We arrived along a very long drive and disembarked in front of a large door to sing our first carol. We were then invited into a large hall with quite a number of people present and sang our repertoire of carols. A mince pie and a drink and we were off into the night to go somewhere else.

The photograph shows Mr & Mrs Camm with evacuees Peter & David Amery in 1941

No. 4 Works Officer Course 02 (1944-1944)

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:28:25 +0000

Lieut Ewart Trist Ashley-Smith RE noted in his War Diary for 1944:

'September 12 pm - to Compton Verney for Overseas Course

September 13-26 No. 4 Works Officers Overseas Course at Compton Verney Warwicks'

The image is part 2 of the course plan - Wednesday 20th September to Tuesday 26th September and the subjects taught include:

Bridge Classification, Practical Camouflage, Gas Alarms, Water Supply

There was a night exercise & final exam was set.

No. 4 Works Officer Course 01 (1944-1944)

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:20:22 +0000

Lieut Ewart Trist Ashley-Smith RE noted in his War Diary for 1944:

'September 12 pm - to Compton Verney for Overseas Course

September 13-26 No. 4 Works Officers Overseas Course at Compton Verney Warwicks'

The image is part 1 of the course plan - Wednesday 13th September to Tuesday 19th September and the subjects taught include:

Demolitions, Booby Traps, Laying & Recording Minefields, Map reading & Weapon Training

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Christmas Carols (1940-1941)

No. 4 Works Officer Course 02 (1944-1944)

No. 4 Works Officer Course 01 (1944-1944)