Z1205/017

Male brick worker b.26.08.1913 The informant was born in March, Cambridgeshire in 1913. His family had been involved in farming, but during his childhood his father worked on the railway. He remembers his schooling and his home life as a child clearly. In addition, he recalls the effects of the First World War and the General Strike in March. The informant's wife, also a native of Cambridgeshire participates in the interview. They recall their social life as teenagers and their courtship. In particular they describe Status Day, a hiring fair in March. After leaving school the informant worked as a butcher's boy and gives details of his work and conditions. In the 1930's he moved to Bedfordshire and became involved in the construction and working of the brickyard at Ridgemont. He recalls his training as a burner and details of the organisation of the yards. During the Second World War the informant joined up and trained as a lorry driver in County Durham, but his progress was disrupted by his recall to the brickyards after a few months. He later returned to the army and was posted to Waddesdon (Bucks). He also served as a despatch rider in Central London. The informant's son was born in 1940 and both he and his wife have poignant memories of the disruption of the father/son relationship caused by his absence during the war. Side A 005 mins)Summary of early life in March and origins of family. Father' and grandfather's work as farm hand and cattleman. (5-10 mins)Father's work on railway before and during World War One. Anecdotes about father's nature and domestic life. Mother's cooking, personality and work. Family accommodation and lodgers. 15 -20 mins)Mother's cooking and personality. Dynamics of parent's marriage. Domestic life during the General Strike. 20-25 mins)More about the General Strike. Use of peat and home-grown vegetables. Schooling. 25-30 mins)Infant school. Soldiers in March during World War One. Celebrations in March for the end of the War and for the Coronation. Side B 00-5 mins)World War One, and the bomb dropped in March. Use of horses in army. Scottish regiments in the town. School life and punishments. 5-10 mins)Subjects first job as a butcher's boy. Leaving school. Behaviour and punishments at school. Class sizes and organisation of schools in March. 10-15 mins)More school life and punishments. 15-20 mins)Subject's wife's education. Subject's work as butcher boy, deliveries. 20 -25 mins)More about work as butcher's boy. Slaughtering animals and making pork cheese/brawn. 25-30 mins)More about brawn. Subject's wages, and how he spent them as a teenager. Local cinemas. Subject's first meeting with wife. Status Day (hiring fair). End of O17C ST017C2 05mins)Status Day. Use of horses on farms. Early twentieth century fairs. Subject meeting future wife. 5-10 mins)Subject meeting future wife, and courting her. Walking outings in the March area. 10-15 mins)Move to Cranfield. Poor employment as butcher in Sharnbrook and move to brickyards in late 1930's. 15-20 mins)Starting work in the brickyard. Construction of Ridgemont yard. Smudging. Comparative earnings. 20-25 mins)Working in the brickyard. 25-30 mins)Travelling to work (cycling/walking). Learning to be a burner. Shift work in the brickyard. Joining the forces at the beginning of World War Two. ST017C2 Side B 005 mins)Social Security (?). Recruitment and training in the Army (Darlington, Barnard Castle). Birth of son. Learning to drive. 5 - 10 mins)Early driving experience. Return to work in the brickyard. Sorrow at missing son. Use of Bromide in the army. 10-15 mins)'Dad's Army.' Wartime work in brickyards. Returning to the army in County Durham. 15-20 mins)Reasons for not going abroad with army. 20-25 mins)Feelings about army service. Posting to Waddesdon. Despatch riding in London. Difficulties of transition back to civilian life. 25-30 mins)Difficulties in relationship with son as a result of absence during war.Teaching son to ride a motorcycle. Original interview 120 mins.

26 June 2001

From: 1910 To: 2001

item

Marston Valley Brick Company Limited,
London Brick Company

farming practice, railway worker, World War One, World War Two, trades unions, army, punishment, child abuse, butchers, conditions/wages, brick worker, lorry driver, horses, cinema, festivals & celebrations fairs, cycling, Home Guard, motorcycles, brickworks, Cambridgeshire March, County Durham, Waddesdon, London, CRANFIELD, SHARNBROOK, Darlington, RIDGMONT