- A follow-up to Yeovil in The Great War 1914-18, the only detailed account of life in the town and its people during 1914-1918
- The only full-length account of Yeovil during the Second World War and reveals hitherto unpublished stories and articles
- Contains ten detailed accounts of ten air raids when Westland Aircraft was bombed with tragic consequences
- Detailed accounts of the rejoicing and VE- and VJ-Days as well as colourful street parties
- Sumptuously illustrated with many rare and unpublished images
Jack Sweet takes a personal look back to Yeovil during the six momentous years of the Second World War and during the time when he grew up. He tells of the air raids, how people rallied to civil defence, welcomed thousands of young evacuees in 1939 and again in 1944. How people dealt with the many trials of a population facing and enduring total war.
Sitting for hours in uncomfortable air raid shelters hearing German bombers flying overhead and wondering where bombs would fall on Yeovil. How the townsfolk saved to buy a destroyer and a Spitfire, and ‘Saluted the Soldier’, as well as hearing the roar of aircraft engines from the Westland Aircraft works and watched Lysanders, Whirlwinds and Spitfires flying overhead. Also, they enjoyed the ‘friendly invasion’ of the US Army preparing for D-Day, saw them go off to battle and finally the joy of VE- and VJ-Days. Total war meant that no-one in the town, young and old alike, escaped unaffected.
| BOOK ISBN |
9781781557907 |
| FORMAT |
235 x 165 mm |
| BINDING |
Paperback |
| PAGES |
160 pages |
| PUBLICATION DATE |
10 September 2020
|
| TERRITORY |
World |
| ILLUSTRATIONS |
54 black-and-white photographs |
Jack Sweet has lived all his life in Yeovil, where he was born. After leaving the RAF in 1958 he worked for thirty four years' with Yeovil Borough Council and later the South Somerset District Council before taking early retirement. His passion for history has inspired this prolific author to write numerous articles for local publications as well as many books including Shocking Somerset Murders of the Nineteenth Century and Shocking and Surprising Somerset Stories. Although retired Jack undertakes voluntary work for the Museum of South Somerset. He is also a keen photographer and has travelled extensively.
