Croydon Boy


Book Description

The best-selling singles artist of 1967 was not the Beatles, the Stones or the Who. It was Engelbert Humperdink. And in the year that Sergeant Pepper was released, the best-selling album was the soundtrack from The Sound of Music. The reality of the sixties often fails to live up to the hype. In this unique book, Peter Saunders - a professional sociologist - blends research findings with personal anecdotes to paint a picture of what life was really like for most kids growing up in Britain in the years following the Second World War. Drawing on his own experiences as a lad living in Croydon, as well as on social research from that period, he explores the changes in family life, education, sex, law and order and personal freedom that were taking place in those tumultuous years.




Croydon and the Great War


Book Description

The last 200 or so pages of this book are taken up with the alphabetical listing of “The Glorious Dead” (2506), the list of Naval and Military Honours (499), also with names in alphabetical order, and thirdly the names of the Returned Prisoners of War(207). In the case of the Fallen the information provided, where known, includes date, place and circumstances of death, date and place of birth, parents, school attended, regiment/corps in which serving at the time of death, where buried ; any decorations awarded are not shown here but in the Honours list. The 36 plates each contain six passport-size photos of individuals who died. The Honours list shows just name, rank, unit, award and date. The roll of Returned Prisoners of War shows name, rank and next-of-kin address at time of capture - the unit is not shown. The first part of the book is devoted to an account of Croydon's part in the Great War. It starts with a description of the course of events in Croydon, year by year, followed by a list of members of the Croydon County Borough Council, 1914 to 1919.. The next part covers the military record, an account of the 4th Battalion (TF) of the Queen's Regiment, ‘C’Squadron the Surrey Yeomanry and the Volunteer Battalion - all based in Croydon. Further descriptions follow, of the part played by civilian organisations and services, such as the police, the Fire Brigade, Medical and Hospital resources, various fund raising committees, Belgian refugees, food and fuel. There are plenty of photos of places and people. This is a comprehensive account of how the war affected the town.




Children in the Second World War


Book Description

“Stunning photographs” and firsthand accounts propel a book that “brings together the memories of more than 200 child survivors of the Blitz” (Daily Mail). It was not just the upheaval caused by evacuation and the blitzes that changed a generation’s childhood, it was how war pervaded every aspect of life. From dodging bombs by bicycle and patrolling the parish with the vicar’s WWI pistol, to post air raid naps in school and being carried out of the rubble as the family’s sole survivor, children experienced life in the war zone that was Britain. This reality, the reality of a life spent growing up during the Second World War, is best told through the eyes of the children who experienced it firsthand. Children in the Second World War unites the memories of over two hundred child veterans to tell the tragic and the remarkable stories of life, and of youth, during the war. Each veteran gives a unique insight into a childhood that was unlike any that came before or after. This book poignantly illustrates the presence of death and perseverance in the lives of children through this tumultuous period. Each account enlightens and touches the reader, shedding light on what it was really like on the home front during the Second World War.




The Boy's Own Annual


Book Description




Devon Herd Book


Book Description




Herd Register


Book Description










The Municipal Journal


Book Description




The Oceans Between Us: A gripping and heartwrenching novel of a mother's search for her lost child after WW2


Book Description

Inspired by heartrending true events, a mother fights to find her son and a child battles for survival in this riveting debut novel. 'A warm-hearted tale of love, loss and indefatigable human spirit' Kathryn Hughes 'A heartrending story' Jane Corry 'A mother's loss and a son's courage... A heartrending story that spans the world' Diney Costeloe For readers of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, The Letter by Kathryn Hughes, and Remember Me by Lesley Pearse. A woman is found wandering injured in London after an air raid. She remembers nothing of who she is. Only that she has lost something very precious. As the little boy waits in the orphanage, he hopes his mother will return. But then he finds himself on board a ship bound for Australia, the promise of a golden life ahead, and wonders: how will she find him in a land across the oceans? In Perth, a lonely wife takes in the orphaned child. But then she discovers the secret of his past. Should she keep quiet? Or tell the truth and risk losing the boy who has become her life? This magnificent, moving novel, set in London and Australia, is testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love. Readers worldwide have fallen in love with The Oceans Between Us... 'A beautiful tale of a mother's love. A wonderful book. Full of emotion, heart, joy and sorrow' Emma's Bookish Corner 'Heart-wrenching debut novel. A story based on actual events which will have you glued to the pages' Waggy Tales 'It has opened my eyes to the injustice done to so many' Shaz's Book Blog 'I flew through this emotional book. I raged at just what some had to endure. But I also felt their bravery in finding justice for all children who suffered. Highly recommended' Between My Lines 'A story that will touch every reader's heart. An absolute must-read' By The Letter Book Reviews ** DON'T MISS THE ORPHANS ON THE TRAIN, COMING SOON FROM GILL THOMPSON **