Page 30 • The HERALD • 25th August 2022 v THE HERALD - YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE v ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN • Full Rewires • New Circuits • Consumer Unit Replacements • Electric Vehicle Charging Points • Landlord Certification • Smart Homes • Central Heating Controls 023 8089 0932 or 07534 343631 www.alnelectrical.co.uk info@alnelectrical.co.uk PJ-T DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS • Misted Units • Locks • Handles • Hinges • Door Adjustments/Repair • Cat Flaps Paul Jackson-Turner 07708 620910 pjtrepairs65@yahoo.com uPVC & Aluminium Free Quotes Fully Insured The Square, Fawley, Southampton SO45 1DD T: 023 8112 3112 E: office@zebra-ltd.co.uk All Plumbing Works Undertaken Full Bathroom Installation Toilet Fix from £75 Fully Insured Free Quotes No Job Too Big or Too Small PLUMBING & BATHROOMS Wartime ‘Tails’ of the New Forest Animals by Marc Heighway, local history enthusiast Regular readers will be used to my stories about the Second World War and how it a ected the New Forest and Waterside communities. But we’re not the only local residents upon which war had an impact. Animals were also part of the story. One such example are the New Forest ponies, donkeys, and cows that graze on the heathland. During World War 2 the ancestors of these animals made for some interesting tales at Beaulieu Air eld. For example, one of the rst aircra to y into the newly built RAF Beaulieu was an American-made Liberator in August 1942. When it came into land, the crew were surprised to see a pony and cart being driven down the new runway by a forester. ere’s also an account given by the lady who ran the air eld cinema on what is now Roundhill Campsite. She had to block the doors with chairs to stop curious New Forest ponies and donkeys coming into the building as she was airing cigarette smoke out in the morning a er the night before. In November 1942, the issue of animals getting in the way of military operations was still a problem. In the New Forest Verderers’ meeting notes from the time, they explain how 57 ponies and 42 cattle had been counted on the air eld. As a result, fencing was erected local New Forest air elds would also keep animals as squadron mascots. At Beaulieu, the 323rd Bomb Squadron had a Great Dane called Trea. Trea went on to France with them and they eventually managed to smuggle the dog back to the United States on a ship a er the war. Going further back in time to the First World War period, Matley Ridge near Lyndhurst was the site of a War Dog Training School. In 1918 it housed 200 dogs who were trained to carry messages during war conditions. is involved the dogs being taught to run through huge trenches whilst explosions, gun re, and mock battles occurred. It was a short-lived exercise though. In 1919, the school moved to Essex. e New Forest commoners had complained about the war dogs attacking the pigs that had been turned out for pannage! It’s certainly something to ponder if you own a dog yourself and ever take them for a walk on that site. If you have any stories of the local area during wartime, or just want to say hello, please do email me on mheighway@hotmail.com. for the airfield, wrote a complaint letter to the Verderers about damage to fencing. ey alleged that fences had been tampered with overnight to allow cattle onto Beaulieu Air eld for better grazing. It would appear the ponies and cows would continue to live side by side with the heavy bombers and ghter planes, despite the best e orts of the military. e fences around the air eld came down in 1958, and New Forest livestock o cially returned to graze Pyro the cat PDSA award for bravery (picture by Bob Bird) Trea Great Dane, Copyright American Air Museum around the site to prevent horses and cows belonging to the Commoners grazing on the land. e fences didn’t stop animals getting onto the runways though. In 1945 the Air Ministry, who were responsible on the land as they still do to this day. During the same period, some remaining Nissen huts were pulled down a er a horse became trapped in one and died. But it’s not just the animals of the New Forest Commoners who have history on the air eld. ere was also Pyro the cat who won a posthumous award for bravery from the PDSA. Pyro belonged to the RAF Beaulieu photographic team. He was their mascot and ying buddy. He lived out his nal year in the village of Pilley but was sadly run over in 1945. He is thought to be the only ying cat of WW2. e airmen who ew from the HYTHE AND DISTRICT LADIES PROBUS GROUP e last meeting of the Hythe and District Ladies Probus Group was held on Friday 29th July Unfortunately the speaker from Exxon was unable to attend but they were able to arrange at short notice Dennis and Sheila Bryant who entertained them for an hour with humorous poems and stories and songs which were enjoyed by all of their members At their next meeting on Friday 26th August the speaker is Alan Jones explaining ‘Why Diets Don’t Work’. ey meet on the last Friday of each month at Dibden Golf Club from 10.30am onwards for co ee followed by a speaker and then a 2 course lunch with co ee ey are a very friendly group and new members are always welcome if you might be interested in joining them please contact Helena Blake on delhel@ btopenworld.com or 023 8084 0578.
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