Local Funding Clitheroe Advertiser & Times November 1st 1940.

Spitfire Fund Raising

The Secretary to Lord Beaverbrook has sent the following letter of acknowledgement to two girls in Clitheroe. Eileen Edith Hartley of 2, Littlemoor Road, and Violet Barton, 6, Wilkin Street.

"Lord Beaverbrook has asked me to let you know that he has received your gift of £1.12s, which you have collected by holding a jumble sale towards the cost of a Spitfire. He wishes me in sending you the receipt for this sum, to say how deeply greatful he is to you and Violet for your gift , and how much he appreciates the spirit in which it is sent.

Red Cross

An effort promoted by Mrs. Ed. Jones of Buccleuch Avenue, in aid of the Red Cross depot, has realised the sum of £3, 7s and 6d. The prize (an afternoon teacloth which Mrs Jones had embroidered) was won by competitor 141.

Death of Serviceman in Ribble Valley.

Cornelius Lawrence Francis Meighan Fusilier Number 4275695, 9th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (aged 22) was killed in a motorcycle accident on 20-06-1941. He was a pillion passenger on a motor cycle. Died between Newton and Slaidburn. Driver injured and hospitalised. Son of Peter and Margaret of Newcastle -On-Tyne. Grave 222 (ST Nicholas) Newcastle-On-Tyne.

Chatburn Bombing

Graham Cutler states in an article from the Castle View dated 5th February 2000 that the German plane that bombed Chatburn did in fact make it back to its base. Graham was informed by a reliable source that someone had been been listening to Lord Haw Haw on the radio the following evening after the bombing and heard the announcement Germany Calling -Germany Calling - "To the people of Clitheroe I tell you this! Yesterday, one of our brave bomber crews inadvertently bombed a small village north of your town, blowing up a petrol tanker and several houses! His actual target was Low Moor Mill where the Royal Engineers are being trained and billeted, and he mistook the Mill at Chatburn for Low Moor Mill. An easy mistake to make I'm sure you'll agree, two large mills situated by the riverside, surrounded by a small village. His secondary target was the aerodrome at Samlesbury where you make between 5 and 7 Handly-Page Hampden Bombers each week! Well he decided to save his bombs for a better target on the flight home, as we can easily shoot down those bombers! You may be interested to know that the aircraft and it's crew returned safely to base in Germany. This is Germany calling! Germany calling."

Thanks Graham for all this information with the original source being Nick Wotherspoon concerning the B24 crash who we are greatful to. Thank you to both gentlemen.

We recently met John Ridgeway at Chatburn who is presently Chairman of the village Hall and active member of the local history society and appreciate his help in this research. From an article in the recent Clitheroe Advertiser and Times dated 28th October 2010 by reporter Katie Hammond the following is as stated. This week saw the 70th anniversary of the day that World War Two came to the small village of Chatburn in the Ribble Valley October 30th, 1940. A German bomber plane reported as a Heinkel 111, circling above them. So low in fact that the pilot and the controls were visible.

Queen Mary's Hospital - Whalley

In Whalley we have what is now the Calderstone NHS Trust Hospital for patients with learning or mental health difficulties. It originally started under the Lancashire Asylum Board with dates still to be confirmed and further information researched.

However, from our perspective relating the World War Two the Government turned this into a hospital for wounded as they had done for the 1914-1918 Great War.

We also have a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery across the road from the hospital and further information and photographs will be available soon.

Royal Engineers at Low Moor -Clitheroe.

During the Second World War 1TBRE (No 1 Training Battalion, Royal Engineers) were based at Low Moor, Clitheroe. They used the stretch of the River Ribble from the Mill at Low Moor up and possibly beyond the bridge at Brungerley. Many temporary bridges were built along this stretch of river by the Royal Engineers.

It is reported that a local soldier Lance Corporal Robert Taylor aged 30 of the 16th Bomb Disposal Coy, Royal Engineers drowned on the 7th May 1941 in an accident on the River Ribble. He is buried in Clitheroe Cemetery Number 1216. Further details are listed on his web page.

Further information will follow hopefully relating to the Royal Engineers at Low Moor, Clitheroe.

Requisition of Unnecessary Railings.

G Hetherington the Town Clerk for the Borough of Clitheroe issued an order on the 6th March 1942 under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts of 1939 and 1940 that all unnecessary railings were to be removed on or after the 12th March, 1942.

Four "Terriers" Back.

As the Allied Armies advance into Germany they are freeing thousands of Britsh Troops who have been held prisoner for months, and in some cases years. Amongst these prisoners are members of the Clitheroe Territorial A.A. Battery who were captured at Crete. Last week (Clitheroe Advertiser and Times-date not copied), that Gnr George Weaver of Moss Street had reached home. He has been followed by three other members of the Battery: Bdr Joe Lannon, Gnr Teddy Punchard and Gnr. Dick Moorhouse. In addition Pte Walter Green, a Grindleton parachutist, captured at Arnhem has arrived home and Lieut Tim Knowles of Hurst Green, who was captured in Libya, arrived home last night. Many more men from Clitheroe and district are prisoners and news of their safe arrival in England is eagerly awaited.

Individual stories to follow.