My Memories of Chandler’s Ford in the 1930s and 1940s: Part 1

I was born in Chandler’s Ford in 1932 – lived at Kingsmead (corner of Winchester Road and Ford Road) until 1946.

I tried to contact Barbara Hillier some years ago as I have two copies of her book. I sat next to David (Ginger) Hillier in Miss Drover’s Grade 4/5 in 1945/46.

The ME110 crash in Baddesley Road in Chandler’s Ford

I would like to tell you my account of the ME 110 crash in Baddesley Road. At the time I was cycling back home and saw the burning plane coming towards me so I hid in the woods about 100 yard from the crash. The pilot was still in the plane trying to avoid a farmhouse but the rear gunner, a fifteen year old boy, had baled out over Cranberry Park, was caught in a tree and had his legs shot off by over zealous home guards.

In 1956 I was in the Royal Navy and visited Travemünde and Lübeck. With three others of the crew we visited a night club – Die Rote Katze (not too sure of the spelling) and it was some sort of special armed services day. As we entered the MC came over and said that a gentleman at a table had invited us to join him with the greeting that “We were all Servicemen even though we had been on opposite sides, we were all the same”. I hadn’t noticed at once that he was in a wheelchair and I related to him about the ME 110 crash and subsequent event – he then said without any rancour “I was that boy” – I don’t think that I have ever met a more heroic man in my whole life and I can never forget his words.

I was born David Peter Butcher but when my mother was married in 1946 I was officially adopted and changed my name to Peter David Shuttler.

I left Chandler’s Ford in 1946 and moved to Burghfield Common, near Reading where I went to boarding school until 1950. Left and joined the Royal Navy until 1957 during which time I married and moved to Saltash, Cornwall.

Emigrated to Australia in 1958 and have never been back to United Kingdom. Originally in Sydney but moved to Tasmania in 1960 and have been here ever since. Relatives have visited me and from all their accounts I would not like to see it as it now – I’d like to see it as I remember.

Some names that I recall – Hubert Baude, Eric Higlett, Brian and Yvonne Traynor and Keith Hubbard. I believe that Yvonne married Eric and Brian served as an Engineer with Shell shipping tankers. I’d love to hear from any of them.

Note: I still go under the name of ‘David’. Those who remember ‘David Butcher’ are welcome to contact me. I was at Ford Road Primary school – from 1937 to 1942 and then went on to Peter Symonds’ school in Winchester until 1946 before moving to Reading.

• Part 1: My Memories of Chandler’s Ford in the 1930s and 1940s
• Part 2: My Memories of Chandler’s Ford in the 1930s and 1940s

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