• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
      • Eastleigh Basics Bank
      • Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler’s Ford
    • Fair Trade
      • Traidcraft stalls in Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford Parish Council
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
  • Site Archive
    • Site Archive 2018
    • Site Archive 2017
    • Site Archive 2016
    • Site Archive 2015
You are here: Home / Community / My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 (Part 6)

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 (Part 6)

August 18, 2015 By Doug Clews 2 Comments

Doug Clews lived in Chandler’s Ford between 1938 and 1966. Now living in Perth, Western Australia, Doug shares his fascinating childhood memories of Chandler’s Ford with us.

Part 6 (Final)

I remember that, due to the shortage of diesel (distillate) and petrol, the buses were powered by gas, generated by a converter of some description, which was located on a little trailer towed behind the bus (very dirty and smelly).

Bus with Gas Burner Trailer during WW2.
Bus with Gas Burner Trailer during WW2.

Due to the shortage of petrol, very few people were able to run their cars unless they were engaged in essential work requiring the use of their vehicle, and then they got an allocation of  ‘red’ petrol (normal petrol with an additive of red dye).

Throughout the country, all the sign-posts had been removed, in the mistaken belief that if “Jerry” (as the Germans were known) landed, he wouldn’t know where he was!!!

Although not realised by the ‘man in the street’ at the time, the turning point of the war was reached and the ‘local scene’ in Chandler’s Ford (and I am sure, elsewhere as well) began to change.

Memories of the War Years header

The appearance of American soldiers

American soldiers were appearing, more and more frequently and two tents were erected at the corner Leigh Road and Bournemouth Road (the main London – Southampton – Bournemouth Road).

These tents were to become the living quarters for some time to come of MPs (Military Policemen), one British and one American. I remember we invited, as did others, the MPs to use our home to have a bath, and in return, they offered us canned provisions, such as bacon, butter, pineapple, the like of which we had not seen for years.

It was, of course, all part of the build up to ‘D-Day’.

The footpaths were covered with ‘clinker’ and built out onto the road throughout most of the village. Quite soon afterwards, they became the assembly area for hundreds of Tanks, Trucks, Jeeps and Ducks (Amphibious Vehicles) used in the ‘D-Day’ assault on the Germans and an estimated 10,000 British and American troops (according to records) were in the village.

46th Field Hospital Chandler's Ford 1944. Image credit: U.S. Army Medical Department Office of Medical History. <a href="http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/actvssurgconvol2/">Office of Medical History</a>.
46th Field Hospital Chandler’s Ford 1944. Image credit: U.S. Army Medical Department Office of Medical History. Office of Medical History.

It is on record that Chandler’s Ford, particularly Cranbury Park and Hiltingbury Woods (as the area was known then), housed D-Day Marshalling Area Camps C6, C7, C8 and C9, as well as the 85th Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers, and, on Hut Hill, the American 46th Field Hospital.

If ‘Jerry’ had known, I guess Chandler’s Ford would be ‘history’ now and perhaps I would not be telling my memories in the year 2015.

What I did as a child during the war

I remember, at the age of 10, helping to fill American Jerricans with petrol at Candler’s, the local Garage (Service Station) in Bournemouth Road near Leigh Road (later to become Rowle’s) and load on to American Left Hand Drive trucks for transporting to an American Supply Depot which had been set up about ½ mile away on ‘Hut Hill’ opposite the then Limmer and Trinidad Lake Ashphalt Company, approximately where ASDA now is.

The site of this supply depot has also been an American field hospital in 1944, an Italian Prisoner of War Camp and finally a German P.O.W. Camp.

The Italians became known, and respected, for their hard work in the community, because after Italy had capitulated, they were allowed out to carry out gardening and other jobs in various homes throughout the village … some of them remained after the War and became part of the community.

Polish Dependents Camp

After the War, a Polish Dependents Camp (Hostel) was set up between Cuckoo Bushes Lane and Hiltingbury Road, and the children from there, together with the children from the families of the British Army Camp 17, situated opposite in Hiltingbury Road, attended the ‘Camp School’ which was run by the Education Department. My first wife, Diane Wilmott, was a teacher at that school when I met her in 1952.

A final note from Doug Clews

Doug Clews with Llama

Apart from the account of the Dornier Bomber in Part 5, by David Ward, the memories that I have recorded in this series are mine. Some facts and figures linked to my memories have been obtained from the internet and other records.

I have not knowingly ‘stretched the truth’, nor deliberately misrepresented the facts, but it should be accepted that, as the years have passed, my memory may have become a little ‘blurred at the edges’ when it comes to detail.

It is hoped that my war time recollections made enjoyable reading, and maybe even brought back memories for some, whilst, at the same time, perhaps enlightened some younger people as to what life was like in those days.

Food for thought

On reflection, although war time, and some terrible things happened to places and people, and hardship was experienced by many, many people, by and large, our lives had far more meaning.

I am sure we had far more respect for others and others’ property, and due to shortages and ‘going without’, our sense of value then was far better than in the current day – food for thought maybe!

Note from Editor

Thank you Doug for this beautiful series about your childhood, and the important history of Chandler’s Ford during the war years. You have truly enlightened us with these stories, connected the past and present, and inspired us to continue discovering history and sharing our experiences. We love your storytelling; we would love to have more. Keep writing; keep smiling.  Janet Williams

Article Series by Doug Clews

    • My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 1)
    • My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 2)
    • My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 3)
    • My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 4)
    • My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 5)
    • My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 6)

Never miss out on another blog post. Subscribe here:

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email

Related posts:

Memories of war years Chandler's Ford by Doug Clews.My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 4) My Memories of Chandler’s Ford in the 1930s and 1940s: Part 1 Memories of war years Chandler's Ford by Doug Clews.My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 2) Memories of war years Chandler's Ford by Doug Clews.My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 3) Memories of war years Chandler's Ford by Doug Clews.My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 5)
Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, education, history, local interest, memory, Peter Symonds, storytelling, World War Two

About Doug Clews

My family moved to Meadow Grove, Chandler's Ford around 1937, where I
spent my childhood, teen years and early twenties. I was educated at
King's Road School Chandler's Ford, Nethercliffe Preparatory School in
Winchester and Peter Symonds' School, also in Winchester. I served an Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship at Pirelli's, did National Service in the Royal Artillery, and was a Representative for Birdseye Frozen Foods. The move to Western Australia came in 1966, where I continued a 'Sales' career. I retired in 2000 and lived in a 'Hills' suburb east of Perth City until August 2019. I currently live happily in a Nursing Home in Georges Hall, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mike Sedgwick says

    August 18, 2015 at 8:19 am

    I remember those buses towing a trailer with a coke furnace and a water tank. The power was from water gas made by spraying water onto hot coke. It made a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The buses ran so slowly as the fuel provided little power.
    My father had diesel for his trucks. One of his jobs was to carry the special steel bomb casings from the factory in Sheffield to the ordnance factory to be filled. Sometimes I went with him but I had to wait at the security gate in case there was an explosion. I was disappointed that there never was.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. VJ Day - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    August 19, 2015 at 4:43 pm

    […] have had many reminiscences about WWII. Here is one about the end of it all. The newspaper is dated 1945. At the time I was with my […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

999, 111, 101, 112? Emergency Numbers You Must Know
Forty Years in Chandler's Ford - a Journal (Part 163)
Chandler’s Ford from the 1980s – Part 2
Home
101 Things to Put into Room 101
84 Charing Cross Road
A walk in a park
Education
Hidden Hampshire - Woodland Walks: Jermyns Lane
Peculiar British House Numbering System

Categories

Tags

arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to interview Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading religion review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • Allison Symes on Story Types
  • Jim Bates on Story Types
  • Rick Goater on Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 163)
  • Janet Williams on Lamson Pneumatic Tube System
  • Allison Symes on Story Types
  • Mike Sedgwick on Story Types

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2021 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.