|
|
 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|
LATEST NEWS
|
![]() |
|
Postscript
[b]A postscript to the 40s Day[/b]
Since about 2001 we have been trying to find the grave of a Lance Bombardier George William Ostler who was killed in action in April 1942 aged 32. We knew there was a plaque commemorating him but it seemed to have disappeared.
In early June the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's representative found it in a nearby grave. It had obviously been inadvertently moved at some time.
We are now having a proper war graves headstone prepared as a fitting memorial to him. We know that he was the son of Albert and Rebecca Ostler of North Thoresby and the husband of Norah Ostler of Grimsby. We don’t know anything about other connections with the village except that he or his ashes were buried in a grave belonging to a family called Borrill.
There is another war grave in the churchyard - not the usual military kind - to a George Milson who died in 1916. You can find the grave easily - it's the cleanest one in the new area of the churchyard (cleaning courtesy of the CWGC).
1940's Day 2007
June 9th 2007; elderly couple potter past the Post Office; he with a rectangular canvas-covered box slung over his shoulder.(didn’t you see that sort of thing in films like “Hope and Glory”?) She is in definitely non-contemporary clothes; sort of forties, but not war time; rather, restrained “New Look”.
Parish Councillor Carol Teanby flits by with a decidedly military jacket over her shorts and sixteen sausages in her hands.
Chairman Dave Barnett struggles past the visitors and admits that he’s not sure he will survive to June 10th.
Various gentlemen in military khaki (much too old to be on active service) smile shyly. Joyce Erswell and Margaret Moor disport themselves in fetching uniforms.
Can only be the 1940s Theme Day. From gas masks to “Photos of my Dad”; from the UK’s only airworthy Lancaster bomber to the sold out dance in the hall, June 9th saw the village turned into a (fairly romantic) image of 1943 or thereabouts. From the playing field to the church it was quite hard to avoid the air raid siren or the voice of Vera Lynn (did you realise what a posh accent she has?). Glen Miller (delightfully) and George Formby (oh well!) were much in evidence as was a kind of dancing not seen hereabouts for many years.
Des and Larraine in the NAAFI produced fare richer in protein (and cholesterol) than their counterparts would have managed 65 years ago. But they did have mugs, not cups, though they were pot, not enamel.
Modern technology aided by Brian Drury and Dave the Chairman, produced a mass of images to throw us back to when our Dads were brave, frightened and idealistic young men and our Mums were brave, frightened and hopeful young women.
For some photos see: http://www.flickr.com/groups/norththoresbylincs
17/06/2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
