Barratt & Co, Footshape Works, Northampton World War Two Bulletins
Northamptonshire Archives has a collection of monthly bulletins sent out to employees of W Barratt & Co, Footshape Works, Barrack Road, Northampton who were serving in the forces, both at home and overseas. A 5/- postal order was sent monthly to each employee along with the newsletter called ‘Painless Extractions’. They cover the period April 1940 – March 1946.
The bulletins include news from those still working in the factory and about fundraising events for the Troops Fund. Extracts of letters sent home from those undergoing training or already posted overseas were also shared to keep the ‘Footshape family’ in touch with each other, no matter how many miles or countries separated them.
The first one records: ‘More of the lads in the factory are being called up, and in order to augment the Troops Fund, we have had a concert at Primrose Hill church. The workpeople packed the place like sardines’. Sgt Pilot A E Cook (Designing Dept) has been drafted to a new Bomber Squadron of Flying Wellingtons, to become operational in two months. Stoker A Ward recounts his ‘thrilling experiences’ on a mine sweeper, disposing of as many as 20 mines a day. Trooper Miller was in hospital with diphtheria.
May 1941: We sadly report that Sgt Observer Ron Spittles is officially reported as missing. We convey our sympathy to his wife and family.
August 1941: An updated report about Sgt Observer Ron Spittles, a member of a bombing crew in the Middle East. Whether they were hit or forced down is not clear, but they were deposited in the sea at 1.30 in the morning. Taking to their rubber dinghy, one of their number with a broken leg, there were two days without any sign of rescue. Finally, they managed to make the African coast where they were taken prisoner. Sadly, no news was forthcoming about Pilot Officer Stan Cook reported missing after an offensive sweep over the Channel. The number of workers now serving – 350.
December 1941: A big Prize Draw at the factory took place which made enough money to give the boys serving a 10/-Christmas present each.
June 1942: A/Cl C J Birch serving in the Middle East reports ‘ the thing that bothers me most is the heat, we’ve had it well over the 1140 mark for the past week, it is terrible, and what with the blessed flies, ants, mosquitoes and all the other insects which inhabit these parts, this is no place for an Englishman!
December 1942: Signaller N Abbott is now in Ceylon. Marine D C Cave stated that after 6 weeks of training, he had a rest of two weeks as he hurt his wrist. He was given light duties in the boot store and looked to see where the boots came from. Nearly all from the hometown of Northampton. Gunner A A Adams in his letter home says ‘What do you think we had for breakfast the other day? Tinned herrings fried! They nearly got up and spoke to us, I’m darned sure they weren’t caught, they must have given themselves up! I hope we never have them again’.
June 1943: Eileen Smith (Office worker) is now with the Women’s Land Army. Since she joined she has learned how to drive a tractor, how to thatch ricks and to clean the cow sheds.
Christmas 1943: Sgt W Welch flew home on leave from N Africa and brought with him – three bananas! They were raffled in his own department! Guardsman R Wright has been transferred from Italy to Germany (POW camp).
Northamptonshire Regiment, Italy 1943
May 1944: That bulletin covers D-Day – as much as they were allowed to due to censorship. Signalman A Allen’s eye witness account of the D-Day landings is as follows:
The whole show was absolutely terrific and the organization unimaginable. Thousands of landing craft of every type, hundreds of huge transports carrying of different craft, equipment and soldier, hundreds of destroyers stretching from England to France, with cruisers, battleships and monitors bombarding ceaselessly. The whole Fleet looked superb in such great numbers. The RAF were out too. The sky was filled with marvellous air cover of fighters and attacking bombers, combined with a great fleet of gliders. Such forces could never have met destruction. That was the background of the world’s amphibian assault in which 31,000 airman took part (sustained by 11,000 planes), 4,000 ships and several thousand smaller craft. Surmounting the difficulties of rough seas and sickness, wind, cloud, cunningly mined beaches and the hazards of a front al attack, the sea and air armadas landed their men and equipment in Normandy, with, in the early stages, the advantages of tactical surprise. So the second Battle of France has begun with vigour.
July 1944: The month sadly brought news of the deaths of two workers. Stoker Leslie Brayn is reported missing presumed killed. Pte Syd Coles was mortally wounded on the field of battle by a shell, while performing the great work of rescue. The Padre was only 15 yards away and was able to administer the last sacraments. Also killed was Liuetenant Kenneth Astles, son of the forewoman in the closing room.
September 1944: A/B Ernie Cadd writes that he is now at the Torpedo College on a course for a Leading Torpedo Operator and has 8 examinations to go through. December 1944: Cpl. H A Kilby B.L.A. reports that the most outstanding piece of news has been the amazing pursuit of the German Army and he has experienced the pleasant side of this invasion. The ovations received by us have baffled description. Every town and village turns out to cheer and wave. All along the road we are pelted with apples, pears, plums, grapes and trays of tomatoes. When one’s vehicle halts, it means flowers and kisses. These people are wholehearted in their spontaneous greeting and one can see quite easily that four years of restrictions under the Nazi boot has at last found an escape valve. In one great city, the trams were held up for four days to allow the troops to go through.
May 1945: The newsletter was full of the news of VE Day. Some of those held prisoner of war in Germany were now home including WO Ron Spittles. He had been kept in confinement under bad conditions with food that consisted of mashed potato and swedes so any Red Cross parcels were greatly appreciated. No heat was allowed in winter. In a forced march of prisoners when 500 started off and only 240 finished up, the German guards found they were approaching the Russian lines. Steps were hastily retraced and they headed in the opposite direction – towards the British and they were released! Gunner Maxie Talbutt was freed by the Americans and is home after 5 long years, having been taken prisoner at St Valerie in 1940. Other recounted their harrowing tales of long years of confinement.
Feb 1946: Some men were still serving overseas, particularly North Africa and India. L-Cpl. A Mapley had been abroad nearly three years and was still waiting to get home.
With most of the workforce now back in England, the last bulletin was in March 1946.