Found these photos of my Great Auntie Peggy during WW2, whom I know was a seargant based at Chilwell in Nottinghamshire. Her full name was Margaret Ann Lobban but I have no idea of her military number or what regiment she served with. Does anyone on here have any ideas on this? I believe that there were was a munitions factory based there in WW1, did this still exists in WW2? She is sitting third from the right on the bottom row in the group photo and is sitting immediately left of the pillar on the random group photo. I love the random group photo as no one is really posing and the picture is so natural. Thanks Ian
Ian. The informal photo looks like it is taken in the WOs' and Sgts' Mess. The Regt Sgt Maj is seating on the right of the picture. Chilwell was an enormous munitions factory in the Great War and is the site of an enormous explosion which killed a lot of the workforce. I think that it was the same in the Second War. After the war, it was an Armoured Vehicle Workshop and Storage Area. Regards Frank
Hi Ian, my aunt was also at Chilwell. Here's the old thread here http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/naomi-perera Do you have anymore photos?
Hi Ian I know from ATS records that a good friend of my late father in-law, Private Margaret E. Denys-Burton, nickname 'Gypsy' was posted to Chiwell in 1941 and spend quite a period of time there. Have you by any chance come across her in your aunt's documents? Margaret was born in Ireland, her father was a baronet, Sir Charles Peter Denys-Burton. Thanks. db
Hi db, unfortunately the envelope addressed to my aunt was the only document we had. I do have more photos which I'll add to the thread I put the link to later today. Edit: Ian, I've uploaded all the photographs I have along with the notes she had written on the back. There were two Margaret's mentioned. All I know is she was at Chilwell from the envelope, Preston from locating a stationery shop in the background and I think it was a Derby newspaper that mentioned her in a news article. Having no service record I consider myself lucky I've manage to find out this much!
Ian and DB, here are some of the responses I received from facebook when I posted pictures of the barracks 1. The long BLDG is definitely what is now BLDG 102 I work in that now. All the ATS girls lived in the BLDG. it sits on a hill and has good views for miles around. The BLDG was called Williams Bks after Major General Leslie Williams who opened the vehicle and stores depot in the mid 1930s. Chilwell was known as Chilwell Depot for many years. The area BLDG 102 sits in became Queen Elizabeth camp after King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited on 3rd March 1943. 2. The building is still there in what is now called Chetwynd Barracks. It was home to the ATS girls during the Second World War. Part of the Barracks was named Queen Elizabeth camp after a royal visit. It's a mixture of accommodation and offices for the Royal Engineers now. 3. The Beeston Historical society might also be interested in your photos. There is a book called The Chilwell Story 1915 to 1982 by MJ Haslam which details the many functions of the ATS and another called ' No Time for Tears' by Margaret Sherman who was in the ATS at Chilwell during WWII driving in the convoys delivering stores and supplies. I've searched the libraries for a copy of the Margaret Sherman book and can't see it. I have traced copies on Abebooks and have encouraged my aunts daughter in Seattle to try and get a hold of a copy so she can read for herself what her Mum might have been getting up to 1943-46. The only copy I could see on Amazon is coming in at £35. No Time for Tears by Margaret Sherman - AbeBooks
Williams' son has recently published a book about the RAOC which has a lot of interesting material on Chilwell. War on Wheels: The Mechanisation of the British Army in the Second World War: Amazon.co.uk: Philip Hamlyn Williams: 9780750966238: Books Most of the army's first line vehicles were delivered via RAOC Chilwell.
You might not have days - the link shows that shop only has one copy to sell - so perhaps it need buying now and storing for Xmas TD
No TD, if I buy now I know exactly what will happen and I've just start stripping wallpaper (regretting it already!). Besides, my sister is coming up in Oct and wanted to treat me to a spa day (just not my scene), but I've convinced her to go to the National Archives in Edinburgh instead. Need to get all the files I want to look at ordered in advance.
AD45, I have found several used lower cost options of 'No Time for Tears' by Margaret Sherman at the following website for anyone that is interested: No Time for Tears by Sherman Margaret - AbeBooks Do you know exactley what the book is about as I would be interested if t had any relation to my Great Aunt? Thanks Ian
Evening Ian, I'll need to correct the link in the morning, but if you type Naomi Perera in the search field, top right, it should bring up the link. Sorry about that. I believe the no time for tears book is just about Margaret's experience at Chilwell with the ATS. I think it will be worth a read, but so does the book Rich linked to. There's never enough time to fit in all the books I'd like to read. But as Tricky pointed out, its unlikely to be reprinted. They were super photos you posted. If that Beeston local historian gets in touch, are you interested in passing on your photos too?
My mother Joan WHITFIELD, from Lincoln was based at Chilwell for a number of years during WW2. I have letters and telegrams sent to her and a Field Service Postcard dated March 1945 sent from Germany from my father addressed to Cpl. J WHITFIELD E Company Hut 46 Chilwell Group ATS. Also telegram addressed to House 28 And a congratulations telegram from the girls in Hut 46 names include Winnie Foreman Dorothy Rowe Joan France Marjorie Sherlaw Joan Davies Vi Taylor Elsie Richmond Peggy Broughton Barbara Lea Marjory Birks Evelyn Molly Elsie W Anne Margaret Edna Cynthia Ruth Betty Lily Winnie Molly Trudie Found amongst my Father Derek FINDLEY'S papers when we cleared his house. My mother died in 2002 aged 80 and father last July aged 98
Hi Christopher You can obtain your mothers service records - see this thread - ATS Service Records and for your fathers - I assume he was in the military - Request records of deceased service personnel TD