Redditch
at War
Alan Foxall and Ray Saunders
From the time of the Civil War – when the town
barely existed – to the Luftwaffe bombing raids
of World War Two, Redditch has had a long history
of conflict. Now Alan Foxall and Ray Saunders, authors
of Breedon's Redditch Remembered,
have compiled a fascinating collection of photographs
to give a vivid image of life in this Worcestershire
town through both world wars and earlier.
From 1794, when the Worcestershire Yeomanry was formed,
through the Boer War, the young men of Reddict served
their country faithfully. The outbreak of War World
One was greeted with enthusiasm by the town as a flood
of volunteers rushed to join up. Sadly many of the
town’s young men never returned home.
In 1939 Chamberlain’s declaration of warbrought
an influx of evacuees to Worcestershire and the industrial
life of the town changed dramatically. Redditch became
a significant contributor to war production as new
factories sprang up and old factories were switched
to war work in an effort to meet the increasing demands
of the War Office. Consequently the town was considered
a viable target by the Luftwaffe and suffered severe
bomb damage during the Blitz. When peace was eventually
declared the town celebrated with street parties,
carnivals and much rejoicing.
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