Belton History Society Journal, Volume 4, 2010
Compiled and edited by Audrey and Philip Walker
Published by the Society
96pp £9.50 Available from local bookshops.
Belton at War is a well produced and very comprehensive account of the
village’s involvement in war –from the Civil War, through the Boer War and
the two World Wars to the Korean War. It includes many personal memories,
not only of front line activities, but also of nursing, the Home Guard, the
Women’s Land Army, evacuees, and farming, and much more.
Of particular interest is the account of the bombing of Belton, thankfully a
very rare incident in Rutland. On Whit Monday, 25th May 1942, a lone Dornier
217, being chased by British fighters, decided to drop four bombs on the
centre of the village. Miraculously, no one was injured although there was
some damage to property. Further research discovered that one of the
chasing Spitfires was piloted by Flight Commander (later Air Vice-Marshal)
Johnnie Johnson.
This book is a good read for anyone interested in this sort of thing, but I have
to admit to being slightly biased – the war-time stories of both my father and
grandfather, and several other relatives who lived in Belton are included.
Robert Ovens
Belton at War
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Belton History Society Journal, Volume 4, 2010
Compiled and edited by Audrey and Philip Walker
Published by the Society
96pp £9.50 Available from local bookshops.
Belton at War is a well produced and very comprehensive
account of the village’s involvement in war –from the Civil
War, through the Boer War and the two World Wars to the
Korean War. It includes many personal memories, not only of
front line activities, but also of nursing, the Home Guard, the
Women’s Land Army, evacuees, and farming, and much more.
Of particular interest is the account of the bombing of Belton, thankfully a
very rare incident in Rutland. On Whit Monday, 25th May 1942, a lone Dornier
217, being chased by British fighters, decided to drop four bombs on the
centre of the village. Miraculously, no one was injured although there was
some damage to property. Further research discovered that one of the chasing
Spitfires was piloted by Flight Commander (later Air Vice-Marshal) Johnnie
Johnson.
This book is a good read for anyone interested in this sort of thing, but I have
to admit to being slightly biased – the war-time stories of both my father and
grandfather, and several other relatives who lived in Belton are included.
Robert Ovens
Belton at War
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