Over the course of my research I have been privileged to meet people who remember Brandon during the war years. Some even recalled the town BEFORE the war. Sadly, many are now no longer with us, which makes these memories even more precious. Some of the memories have been edited to offer a better continuity in the narration, however the words are their words as spoken to me at the time of our meeting. Click on their name below to visit their page.
DAWN ADAM
Dawn recalls the life of a teenage girl growing up in Brandon during the war.
BILL BISHOP
In later life Bill would become a Brandon Town and District Councillor, but here he talks of growing up, as an evacuee, to Brandon.
COLIN BLANCHFLOWER
Colin recalls seeing a German aircraft machine gunning a line of Brandon women, while he walked to school.
LES BOND
Les was a teenager when war was declared. He served in the town’s Home Guard and saw active service toward the end of the war.
HILARY ELMER
Hilary recalls his father serving in Brandon’s Home Guard.
ENA ESPIE
As a child living in Church Road, she saw her father build an underground air raid shelter. She also speaks of her experiences in the air raids.
MARGARET GAGE
Margaret was a child evacuee to Brandon and her experience was far from enjoyable. Here recalls her harsh treatment.
KEN HARRIS
Ken’s claim to fame is being Brandon’s first evacuee. He and his brother came to Brandon during the summer of 1939 and stayed when war was declared.
LES HAYWARD
Les, a Barnardo Boy staying at Wangford, recalls life in Brandon for him and his brother, also of living next door to R.A.F. Lakenheath.
JIM HOOK
Jim was one of the first to go to war. Evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk he was then sent to Singapore, where he was taken prisoner by the Japanese.
JACK INNS
He served in Brandon’s Home Guard, was almost bombed in his bed and saw active service in Europe. Jack recalls it here.
OLIVE KISIEL
Olive is arguably best known for being a primary school teacher in the 1970s, but here she talks of being the daughter of a Brandon shopkeeper.
CYRIL KNIGHTS
Cyril served with the R.A.F. in India and Burma, during 1942-45. This account is from his daughter, Sue Hartga..
DICK NORTON
My uncle Dick talked to me about his childhood, growing up in Coronation Place, Brandon, in wartime.
GRAHAM PALMER
Graham was a young lad, growing up in Brandon during the war. His daughter, Sue Oatley, relays some of his experiences.
AUDREY REES
A cousin of Yvonne Rundle, she accompanied Yvonne to Brandon, both as evacuees. This is taken from an interview she did for the BBC.
TERRY ROYAL
Terry recalls life growing up in Brandon and of the movements of troops in town and enemy aircraft above.
HARRY RUMSEY
Harry talks of the ‘adventure’ of being a Brandon lad during the war, cycling around town. He even witnessed a German aircraft machine gunning the town.
YVONNE RUNDLE
As an evacuee to Brandon, Yvonne recalls in detail what she went through, and her fond memories of the town and its people.
JEANET SCOTT
Jeanette was my first ever interview, which was conducted in the Brandon Heritage Centre. She recalled her family looking after a soldier billeted with her family.
CHARLIE WHARF
Charlie describes what life was like for a teenager working in Brandon – working for and ironmonger while also volunteering for the A.R.P., the decoy airfield at Lakenheath, the machine gunning of the school and Americans lying drunk in the street!
PETER WOODS
Peter and his family were in Brandon during the war, staying above Mr Woodrow’s ironmonger shop. Peter recalls what it was like staying there, the good and the bad.
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