MEMORIES OF BROADSTONE IN THE 1940s

At the outbreak of WW2 in 1939 Britons expected to be immediately attacked so there was a mass evacuation of children from the big cities. Broadstone had it's share, children being allocated to private homes and attending the local schools (three sitting at a desk was the norm). There was one school in Broadstone catering for children 5 - 14 years (unless you passed 11+) until Henry Harbin in Poole was opened.

Broadstone was a very different place - a small village in fact - very friendly - where everyone knew their neighbour and shopkeepers addressed you by name. The big houses in the Golf Links area and Upton Pines were owned by retired Generals, Colonels and Admirals etc. The smaller properties by business people and traders - There was certainly a "divide". However the war brought people together - roads were divided into sections with a voluntary Air Raid Warden supplied with a tin hat marked ARP who was responsible for checking that houses had no cracks of light showing around black-out curtains (he would knock on the neighbour's door) before the Police Constable arrived! They also checked that buckets of sand and water were kept filled to put out fires from incendiary bombs. Several houses were hit by these in Broadstone - a lady was killed in Westheath Road and there was another fatality at the bottom of York Road. The metal railings of Broadstone Recreation Ground together with all similar metal structures in public places were removed for melting down for the War Effort (not called recycling in those days) The name signs were removed from all railway Stations. (Broadstone Station stood where the Leisure Centre now stands). All major road signs across the country were also removed in order not to help low flying aircraft or invaders to identify their location.

A local Home Guard Section was formed this comprised a group of men from the older age group mostly WWI veterans and young men before "call-up". They guarded the Water Tower, and did their indoor training in the Old Library (now the Community Centre) They were prepared to attack any invasion by sea or from the air. Their equipment was fairly primitive but they had great spirit.

Many people in Broadstone worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Creekmoor (now Siemens and Poole Pottery in Sopers Lane) where 20mm cannons were manufactured. This was a target for the bombers. Creekmoor Halt was a small station, mainly for workers at the factory. The shops were all privately owned - Watkins the Grocer and off-licence, French's Stores a bakery grocery, Dorset County Stores and the Post Office. We had two butchers Cobb and Fudge. Wilson the outfitters - to name a few. The sale of food was gradually restricted by rationing until well after the war ended. Bread was first rationed after the war. Only home grown fruit available. Fruit was unavailable except home grown It is said that the nation was healthier when we were eating good basic foods than today or before the war -obese children and adults were unheard of! Most villagers dug up lawns and spare plots to grow vegetables, kept chickens and had a pig at the bottom of the garden - if space permitted; "Digging for Victory".

There were many soldiers stationed around Broadstone including Americans (first time we saw black faces in this area). Many of the big houses in the Golf Links roads were turned into Headquarters for military Operations preparing for D. Day and other operations. After a few months by early 1940 many parents took their evacuee children back home but some stayed the whole war especially if parents were killed by bombs or enemy action. There were no bombs but a fear of invasion to the south in June 1940. In autumn of 1940 we saw many "Dog Fights" overhead as fighter planes intercepted the bombers heading for the big cities of Coventry, Birmingham and other midland towns. Many bombs were jettisoned along the south coast by damaged planes.

The Women's Institute Hall standing on the site of the grass plot of the now First School was the centre of social activity for dances (plenty of soldier partners for the girls). These weekly dances to gramophone records raised money for the War Effort and later for British Legion and Memorial Hall. The Parish Room across from the W.I. was the Meeting Place for Village and Church meetings. It was next to the Vicarage which was next to St. John's Church all in Dunyeats Road (then called Wimborne Road). Village fetes with a fair ground were held in farm fields adjoining Brookdale Farm (now Fairview Estate) started again in 1946 combining Flower Show for several years. The Scout Hut was at the end of Fairview Road (near junction of now Fairview Crescent) until 1960s. May 1945 brought great jubilation when the end of the war in Europe was announced. Broadstone did not have any big street parties (these happened in the big cities). We did not have T.V. but the wireless kept us informed how the nation was responding. We were all still worried about the men still fighting in the terrible conditions in the Far East. The Royal British Legion (formed in 1921) was very aware that there was going to be great need for help and assistance to ex-service men and women and dependents for years to come - this work continues to this day. Over £4 million was spent on welfare help in 2004. The Broadstone Branch was formed in 1945.

Rita Atterton, Chairman, Broadstone British Legion Women's Section

Photos courtesy of Tom Wilson, U3A Photographic Group

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