World War 2 records presented to Warwickshire Record Office
A log book for a World War Two Spitfire, bought with the proceeds of Atherstone Savings Committee in 1943, has been handed over to Warwickshire County Record Office in Warwick for safe-keeping.
The Savings Committee was part of the ‘The Wings for Victory’ National Savings Campaign, which aimed to raise funds for the war effort. Although Atherstone’s target was £100,000, the Committee actually raised a massive £146,973 – the equivalent of 29 Spitfires at the time. The logbook for the Spitfire records that the aircraft was used for photographic missions in Germany, Holland and Denmark during 1945. The books were recently discovered in the council offices in Atherstone.
Accompanying the logbook is a commemorative booklet from Thanksgiving Week 1945, which includes tributes from the Royal Family, the then Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. A third document is a hand-written record of ‘civilian deaths due to war operations’ during 1941 when around 20 people in the Dordon and Grendon areas were killed during bombing raids.
Rob Eyre, archivist at the record office said
“These documents provide a small insight into the experiences of a Warwickshire community during World War Two. By depositing the books at the record office North Warwickshire Borough Council have ensured that these fascinating documents can be preserved safely for future generations.”
Anyone wishing to view these documents can do so by visiting the record office, the address is Warwickshire County Record Office, Priory Park, Cape Road, Warwick. CV34 4JS.
The record office would also be interested to hear about any other wartime archival material relating to Warwickshire with a view to deposit. Anyone interested in discussing this further should speak to Mark Booth, Senior Archivist, Collections on 01926 738953.