aug07Summer Civil Defence & Battle School

This Re-Creation of WWII Life represents everyday life at Kentwell during WWII at a time before the Hall was requisitioned. The Hall is still occupied by Mr & Mrs Starkie Bence.

There were several arms of Civil Defence. Everyone has, thanks to the TV programme Dad's Army, heard of the Home Guard. They may have been poorly armed, lightly trained and staffed with those unfit for military service due to age or disability but they took their duties very seriously and trained regularly and hard.

The highlight of this weekend will show an important part of the Home Guard's training - the Battle School. This was a mock battle to give the Home Guard some idea of what real action might be like. The Home Guard was never intended to fight pitched battles but was trained to harry enemy troops which landed in the UK, disrupt their communications and mop up enemy units that may have become isolated.

The Mock Battle Scenario Our Mock Battle Training takes the very likely scenario of an enemy unit, separated from its main force, taking refuge in the Farm Buildings at Kentwell. The local Home Guard section has been called in to sort them out.

The Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) which in August 1941 became the National Fire Service (NFS) the fore-runners of today's Fire Brigade carried out regular exercises. In addition to domestic or commercial fires they had to deal with the fire effects of bombing raids and aircraft crashes, of which there were many in these parts due to the high concentration of airfields.

The Women's Voluntary Service (WVS) were revered by many in wartime as the source of the necessary 'cuppa' whenever disaster struck. They were on hand whenever other arms of the services were on exercises.

Air Raid Patrol Wardens (ARP) were those who ensured that blackout Regulations were observed. We can scarcely blackout the whole House with its numerous windows (although most are shuttered which provided excellent blacking out) but we do show a black out car. There were more motor accidents due to black out restrictions than any other cause.

Landgirls Because so many men were called up much of the work on farms was done by landgirls, many of whom were city dwellers and had to learn country ways.

What Else the Visitor May See
Mr & Mrs Starkie Bence, their Family & Friends
Mr & Mrs Starkie Bence live at the Hall and due to lack of staff and there own preference have withdrawn into only a small part of it. Nevertheless Mrs Starkie Bence usually entertains a few friends who often include the Rector.

Other Civilians
There may be a sprinkling from Gamekeepers or a PC to Evacuees, a Spiv to Men from the Ministry to be encountered anywhere.

The Kitchen
Kentwell's Great Kitchen becomes a 1940 kitchen producing much from very little using as much as possible of produce from the Garden. Although during wartime rationing and shortages were not nearly as bad as they became in the post-War period, shortages and rationing still affected everyone.

Everywhere there may be the sights and sounds of WWII England.