Motorised nurses and a big cheque from the USA
As the month draws to a close, Historian Malcolm Goode looks back to key events from March 1941.
IT’S easy to assume that all social events ground to a halt during the Second World War, but that wasn’t the case.
In March 1941, the community of Stretton used some of the money that they had raised in a recent fete and gala to purchase what was described back then as an “auto-cycle” for the use of the district nurse.
The presentation of the machine to Nurse Glover at Craythorne Hall, took place at the home of Colonel and Mrs F. F. Burghard who were accompanied by Mr A. Jones and Mr H. Ward of the fund-raising committee.
Nurse Glover confidently predicted that her task would from now on would be lightened.
Around the world, other events of interest included:
■ March 7 – British Ground troops land at the port of Piraeus in Greece, their role was to assist the Greek armed forces to repel the anticipated German invasion.
Another U-boat ace, Gunther Prien and U-47 were lost at sea, sunk by the British destroyer H.M.S. Wolverine.
■ March 11 – What was to become a positive and defining moment for Britain came about on this day when in Washington, the Land-lease Bill was signed by President Roosevelt.
On the following day, President Roosevelt sent to Congress a request for a Lend-lease appropriation of seven million dollars (approximately 3.5 billion dollars in today’s money).
Winston Churchill thanked America saying; “The government and people of the United States have in fact written a new Magna Carta.”
■ March 17 – The German U-boat arm were losing many of their top commanders to the Royal Navy’s response to attacks on Merchant shipping. Joachim Schepke was killed and U-100 was sunk; Otto Kretchmer captured and U-99 sunk.
■ March 31 – German and Italian forces under the command of General Rommel attack in North
Africa, the British are forced to withdraw, abandoning 50 armoured cars and 30 light tanks.
Throughout the month the Blitz on Britain continues with heavy and indiscriminate bombing of London, Portsmouth, Merseyside, Clydeside, Bristol and Plymouth.
In some form of reply, the RAF carried out a night raid on Berlin on March 23.
Since the Blitz began six months earlier, it was reported that the civilian casualty rate in the UK, at the end of this month stood at; 28,860 killed including 600 children and 40,166 injured.
ROLL OF HONOUR 1941
SWINDALL, JOHN JOSEPH:
Lance Corporal, Corps of Military Police, died on March 4, aged 27. Died as a result of a motorcycling accident. Son of Harry and Emma Swindall. Husband of Violet M. Swindall of Springfield Road, Swadlincote. Occupation: Heavy worker in a local clay works kiln HARPER, FREDERICK LEVI: Private, died on March 15, aged 27. Son of Frederick and Henrietta Harper of Burton Road, Lower Midway. Husband of Mabel Millicent of Harper, Coalville. Occupation: Grocery and provisions manager DRAPER, DOUGLAS URBAN: Sergeant, RAF Volunteer Reserve. Died as a result of a flying accident on March 23, age 24. Son of wellknown florist Irene Alberta Draper and the late William Draper of Station Street, Burton. Douglas Draper was a very active member of the George Street Methodist church where he was a Sunday School teacher. He was employed by the Ministry of Supply prior to joining up.
BARRETT, JOHN THOMAS: Private, Worcestershire Regiment, died on March 31, age 27. Son of John and Mary Prudence Barrett of Burton. Husband of Ida May Barrett, of Forge Lane, Clay Mills, Stretton. Occupation: Bakers’ rounds man. Private Barrett’s unit took part in the Battle of Keren which is situated in the Eritrea region of the Sudan. The 1st Worcestershire Regiment took very heavy casualties capturing the hilltop fortress of Keren, forcing the Italian army to surrender.