Rather "disappointingly" when I spoke to my mother about her memories of Harrogate during 1942, she said that she stayed at Queen Ethelburga's school for the whole of her 4 weeks there to ensure that she (and others) were Free From Infection (FFI) before being posted to Queenbury (near to Bradford) for ATS Signals School. Sounds like they were ivirtually n quarantine Queen E's or something close.
Bexley84 Beleive it or not about 1/2 mile away from QueenE's was a fever/isolation hospital, could have been kept there for the time or in the wooden buildings behind the main school. Thanks for asking your mum, a different answer to what I thought any way
Oldman The detail in your posts is brilliant, thank you so much. I believe there is a German map showing the Harrogate hotels that the Nazi's had in their sights, so I'm hoping to get a look at it when I return to N Yorks soon. Bexley 84 Thank you for your input to my research. Ditto Oldman's comment, it would be great to hear about your mothers time in Harrogate if she wishes to share any more memories. Many thanks, OB
Just seen the posts on page 2 of this thread (my internet connection is painfully slow) so thanks to all for input about hospitals in the area. I'm awaiting a book about the history of the RAMC so will add any details here if more info comes to light. OB
Ollie Bear Hope the posts have been a help to you, if you get any response from Malcolm please share his thoughts as he is a very good historian. If you require any further information I will try and find out for you although it may take time
Oldman, The posts have been a huge help to my research-thank you for being so generous with your information. I will report back if I speak with Malcolm to continue the thread. Am so glad I joined the forum! OB
Hi Ollie, I know this is an old thread, but I thought I'd contribute.... I've just inherited all my grandmother's letters between her and her (future husband) both of whom were evacuated to Harrogate - she with the GPO and him with the Air Ministry. The letters cover the whole they were there and provide a load of detail about the daily life of the evacuees (they were told not to refer to themselves as that - the move was considered permanent, and therefore they were the relocated) as well as some flavour of the town. Willing to share more information if you're still interested.
Hello Mcdingo Ollie has not been on the forum since Nov 2011 Send him a private message Regards Clive
McDingo Welcome to the forum, any information you would like to share would be appreciated, a lot of people came north like your grandparents and stayed in the area after the war. Look forward to your future posts Oldman
Hi All, I appreciate this chat room has not been active for a while, but thought I'd take a punt regardless. I'm a 17 year old student looking to write a 5000 word essay on Harrogate in the Second World War (for something called an EPQ). It's a topic I've long wanted to get my head around but never really found the time. As it's early summer, I thought I'd try to get ahead of the game and begin researching. This morning I've compiled a list of things I'd like to focus on within the essay: Things to think about · Evacuation (numbers, from where, to where, any problematic situations, success, are there any surviving evacuees?) · Changes to buildings (Did Harrogate become a military centre? To what extent is the Harrogate today a product of the war physically?) · Soldiers (What kind of numbers did Harrogate send off? Due to the fact Harrogate was a wealthy place, to what extent did the soldiers gain good army positions? Numbers of deaths? Which kinds of battles were Harrogate men fighting at?) · Economically (did the war have any lasting impact on Harrogate economically? Did Harrogate contribute at all to the industrial needs of the war?) · Socially (Did the impact of the war change things such as numbers at church, numbers at weddings, numbers at schools? Did the war change Harrogate’s attitude to War, foreign affairs or political leanings?) · Benefits of the war (Has Harrogate thrived because of the war or in spite of it?) If any members have any suggestions for any of these things, or think there's a huge hole in my list, please say. I'd love all the help I can get as it's a large topic and I'm not entirely sure where to start. Also, if anyone has access to primary sources (diaries, letters, archaeological bits and pieces) that'd be a joy to investigate. Furthermore, if anyone knows any war veterans, survivors etc. who'd be willing to communicate by any means, I'd be grateful. Thanks in advance, TDC
I remember standing on Harrogate Railway Station either June or July 1944 and see a hospital train pull in and ambulances being loaded with wounded - later on the way home, going up Ripon Road, there was a constant stream of those ambulances heading to what I learnt later was the U.S Army Hospital at Penny Pot. No one seems to recall the Post Office Savings Bank at "the huts" up St. Georges Road. My father got a job there when he was invalided out of the M.N (on convoys) in 1942.
Outside Harrogate there was also a camp school at Bewerley Park.It was used to accommodate evacuees from Leeds during the war and might have also been used for military accommodation. Postwar,Bewerley Park camp school continued to be associated with outdoor education and was the camp school for the West Riding education department.
Bukom The Post Office Savings Bank "at the huts" closed in 1978/1979 all work transferring to Cowglen at Glasgow for the begining of the "computer age". MOD Air then had all the site until the nineties when it went to Wyton & Brampton. The huts are no longer they were pulled down and are now a housing estate.
Posted elsewhere on here but reposting after seeing this thread. I believe this is Harrogate, WW1 veterans, Nov 11th 1944. My great Grandfather (Duke Of Wellington's Regiment) on the far right. His son was serving in the Far East at the time.
Again, this is a long shot. I am researching my Mums family and know that her and her Sister were posted to Harrogate with the Air Ministry. I heard her talk of the Old Swan and The Grand Hotel. She went with another girl from the local area and they became great friends for life. My Mum Joyce born 1921, Her Sister Nina born 1917 were from Withernsea. Their friend Mary was from Gilberdyke East Yorkshire. I would love to find out more. The two sisters stayed with their friend in Gilberdyke occasionally and that's where Mum met my Dad. Thank You
Hi Ollie Bear My father was stationed in Harrogate at the air ministry offices. He worked in the drawing offices producing technical drawings, training materials, manuals and a whole lot more. I still hold a number of aircraft drawings and have a few stories. Contact me if you wish: mail@graham-mclusky.co.uk. It woukd be good to have a chat. Graham
