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Cheshunt at War
Created 21 June, 2008
The book attempts to describe life in Cheshunt during the war. It tells nothing of the adventures of local people in the armed forces; this is the story of those who stayed at home, who supplied the materials of war, taught or learned in schools, joined voluntary organisations to help with morale and the war effort. It is the story of the Civil Defence Services, the work of the local authority, of farmers and nurserymen. There is plenty of evidence of very hard work by many people; there is grief and sadness, there is humour. Never before had civilians been so much in the front line. Many towns could no doubt tell a similar story - indeed, many books have been written recently about how the war affected particular places. Early in 1983 it occurred to me that there were many people with detailed memories of Cheshunt in the war years, and that it would be an interesting and enjoyable task to record their recollections. I quickly found that one contact led to another: I was told "Oh you must go and see old so-and-so - he can tell you all about that." Much to my delight I discovered that some of those I visited had wartime scrapbooks, documents and photographs, which they generously lent to me for copying. Before very long I realised that I had the makings of a fairly detailed history of Cheshunt between 1939 and 1945.
Further investigation brought to light, such valuable records as the minutes of the Urban District Council and its committees, the official register and map re cording all incidents of enemy action in the area, and the wartime diary and photograph albums of the late Mr E.J. Carter. These and many other sources have enabled me to fill out the detail and give a chronological framework to much of the anecdotal history obtained in conversation.
It has been enormous fun. The greatest pleasure for me has been to meet and correspond with so many people - some for the first time following my appeals for help in the local press, and others old friends I had not seen for many years. Some of those who helped me have, alas, since died.
We would be very pleased to hear from anyone who has any further memories, relevant documents or photographs to add to the files. I have done my best to be accurate and factual in this book, and should be grateful to be told if I have failed in any way.
I hope these pages will bring back memories for those who lived through the war years, and be of interest also to those too young to remember them.
Peter Rooke's Cheshunt at War continues in two weeks time with - Preparing for War.