Figure 1.--. |
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I was a pupil attending Dudley Grammar School from 1941 to 1947. The required dress was a mid-grey uniform. Caps, originally consisting of light blue and dark blue horizontal circles, and later of light blue and dark blue vertical quadrants, also had to be worn. One HAD to wear the cap to and from school, otherwise one would incur detention. DGS was a strict school, and one flouted the rules at one's peril. The change from horizontal rings pattern to the triangular quadrant pattern occured about 1943/44.
Blazers were allowed during the summer term, consisting of a very dark blue worsted material. The school badge, consisting of an outline of a castle, with the leters D G S intertwined, was displayed on the breast pocket, as it was on the standard jacket and trousers uniform. Blazers were a luxury during the war, and were only purchased by the well-off families. On the subject of blazers, towards the end of my term of education, a new design of blazer was introduced. These were made from material with vertical, alternate light blue/dark blue stripes.Ties, of diagonal medium blue and navy blue stripes were worn as part of the uniform. Open-neck shirts were allowed during the summer term. Other clothing items, such as pullovers, socks and scarves, were generally of mid grey wool, with the traditional dark blue and light blue rings. One wore shorts until the third year, and then long trousers were permitted. The wearing of trousers was a 'desirable' state, but not every family could afford the extra price. There was no objection to the wearing of shorts, as far as I can remember.
The school was divided into "Houses", comprising North, East, South and West. The colours for Football jerseys and team ribands were Red for North, Yellow for East, Blue for South, and Green for West. Boys were allocated to a "house" according to the magnetic area of the district in which they lived in relation to the school. One item that was proudly cherished was the school badge, in 'House' colours, that was presented at assembly for some sporting achievement. I was awarded the blue 'South' house colours for achievement in the boxing team.
I can't recall that clothes were a topic of conversation. I presume we just took them for granted. We just knew we had to take care of them per threat of a sore backside.!
The school had its own Scout Troop, hence the photo of a teacher in scoutmaster uniform. The school also boasted its own Army Cadet Force, and the Officer in charge was was Mr. Wilmott, one of the masters. Photos can be found of Mr Wilmott in Army uniform with his class. The only clothing items issued free were the uniforms for the Army Cadet Force. These were issued from the local Drill Hall, and, as the unit met after school twice a week, we were allowed to wear these to school.
I remember the war very well, as that was the period of my education.
We were close to Longbridge, the Birmingham works of Austin-Morris cars. They, as other engineering firms around the Midlands, were involved in the manufacture of Services vehicles and munitions. Another target for the Luftwaffe was the Spitfire works at Castle Bromwich. The Midlands skyline was protected by 'Barage Balloons', but still the German fighters used to attack the factories and shoot down the barage balloons. From the high vantage points around Dudley, one can see for many miles across the Midlands, and often we would watch this daylight activity from afar. The anti-aircraft battery at Oakham, Dudley, used to open fire at the raiders, and did actually succeed in hitting one bomber, which, during a night raid, was brought down in flames close to Dudley at Brierley Hill. I think that most of the Luftaffe bomber crews just dropped their bombs and ran, as it was a long way to the centre of the country, and a long way back to Germany. A lot of bombs were jettisoned willy-nilly with no apparent target.
For some reason, Dudley escaped the heavy punishment that the surrounding and very close districts of Wednesbury, Tipton, Coventry and Birmingham experienced. Only two bombs fell at Dudley town. I lived 3 1/2 miles away at Dudley Wood, and we only experienced a stick of incendiary bombs, some of which did not ignite. For years afterwards, I cherished the tailfin of one of the bombs, which I snatched hurriedly after it had burnt itself out. [HBC note: British boys in the Blitz collected shrapel aswell as pieces of bombs and planes that they might come across. Sadkly the younger children did not understand that some items were dangerous and there were a number of injuries, even deaths.] The Grammar school had deep air raid shelters built some 50 metres from the school, alongside the large playing fields. Apart from regular practice, I can't recall using them in anger. Perhaps we were lucky.
In the summer, we cycled to school, but mainly we used the Midland Red buses. We even had school bus passes if we lived outside the 2-mile radius of the school. The journeys were slow during the late afternoon winter months, as there were no street lights, and the somewhat poor headlights of the buses were further impaired by the attaching of obligatory anti-glare shields. We were issued with special, supposedly luminous armbands for wear in the dark hours.
The Midlands received a fair quantity of evacuees from other heavily blitzed areas of the country, but I can't recall youngsters from the Midlands being evacuated.
don't remember much of the clothes rationing system, but there were a number of clothes shops and tailors in and around the Town. People were very adept at making their own clothes at that time, and quite a lot of parents bought the cloth and made clothes for their children. One usually
bought uniforms that were a little larger than necessary, so that the pupils could 'grow into' them. They had to last longer, and, if still in good shape, were often 'sold down', after cleaning, for a few shillings and pence. School badges were an expensive item, and not obligatory, but
they were obtainable. It was important to get a good supply of Cash's nametapes', with one's name embroidered on them. These were attached securely to every item of clothing for identification. There were two "official" clothiers in the town that supplied Grammar School items, and, it seemed to me, items were supplied on demand. Both uniforms and sports clothing were obtainable. As far as woollen items were concerned, most families had someone who was accomplished at hand knitting - in my case my grandma, who kitted me out handsomely in those items such as pullovers, socks and scarves.
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