10/3/26

Matt Colley sent the attached through, entitled Fotheringhay Remembers. This is a Service of Commemoration and Remembrance on the 22nd of this month for the crews of two Whitley Bombers that crashed on April 12th, 1943. Details HERE.

10/3/26

Two new articles have been added to the Research page today:

Propaganda Iron Crosses of 1914: By Simon Wilson. Like many things, there used to be a lot of these about. Known as “Propaganda Iron Crosses”, these are crudely made cast crosses, often bearing the names of French and Belgian cities. not much is known about them.

'Battle Planes': By David Gray. A picture appeared on the front cover of a magazine 1938. We could be forgiven for thinking that the aircraft depicted were the figments of a story-teller’s imagination, however, these aircraft were both real.

8/3/26

Jonathan D’Hooghe, in his ‘Trench Lincs’ email magazine, has announced the following: "on Friday 24th April at 13.00h, I have booked a group visit to the WWII Fighter Control Room at RAF Digby, near Sleaford, Lincs.

As this is an operational RAF base, you will need to register with me, and drivers will need to give me details of their cars – Registration, make, model and colour. You will also need photographic ID with you on the day – driving licence, passport etc.

Would love to see a good turnout, and new faces are especially welcome. I look forward to hearing from you.”

If you are interested, contact Jonathan at the email address below. However fellow member Matt Colley is going and has a space in his car if anyone is interested.

trenchlincs@gmail.com

3/3/26

Two new articles have been added to the Research page today:

Peterborough Petty Sessions in WWI: By David Gray. The Petty Sessions was the equivalent of our modern-day Magistrate’s Court. They dealt with all manner of transgression whether committed by civilians or military personnel. Some cases here from WWI.

Defective AA Fire in WWII: By David Gray. British anti-aircraft guns caused significant civilian casualties during the Blitz, with some estimates suggesting collateral damage from shrapnel and unexploded shells caused up to 50% of casualties during some bombing raids.

1/3/26

We have a new Item of the Month. This time from Andrew Lingard.

28/2/26

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond their control, Terry Edge and Andrew Lingard will not be able to attend the Model Club show on behalf of our group, at Stamford tomorrow. The event is still taking place however, and would still be well worth a visit.

25/2/26

Simon Adams has forwarded the following information:

Please see the attached poster (below) re a talk being given at Whittlesey Library on 16th March which you may wish to circulate.

The 1:30pm start time isn’t the greatest and some PMHG members may have attended this same talk previously.

That said, it is an opportunity to hear what looks to be a very good talk. POSTER

24/2/26

Two new articles have been added to the Research page today:

Salvaging the German Fleet: By David Gray. “Two hundred feet under the sea at Scapa Flow there is an engineering shop in the upturned hull of the German battleship, Grosse Kurfurst, which was sunk there with the rest of the German Grand Fleet just after the war.”

Friendly Fire in WWII: By David Gray. There's no single definitive number for Allied aircraft lost to friendly fire in WWII, as records are incomplete and difficult to separate from combat losses, but major incidents included hundreds of paratrooper deaths in Sicily.

19/2/26

A date for everyone's diaries, SATURDAY, 7th NOVEMBER 2026. This is the date of our ANNUAL EXHIBITION at Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery this year. (It has already been mentioned in the last Newsletter).

Click HERE for the flyer.

We will have the same two rooms as before, the 'Howe' and 'George' rooms. Please let me know as soon as possible if you cannot make it as I will work on the assumption that the same people will be exhibiting in the same locations as 2025.

Also, if there is any member who has not exhibited and would like to this year, please let me know and we will fit you in.

17/2/26

Two new articles have been added to the Research page today:

The Retreat Through Burma: By David Gray. The retreat through Burma in May 1942 was the longest fighting withdrawal in British history. A desperate 1,000-mile flight after the fall of Rangoon and Mandalay, by approximately 45,000 British troops.

The Head of Oliver Cromwell: By Simon Wilson. Cromwell's head, bound in iron, stayed in place until a storm in 1684 blew it down, where a sentry found it on the ground and took it home. A reward was offered for the return of the head, which was a national relic.

Welcome to new member Phillip Knight, who joined our group at the last meeting. We hope to see you lots more in the future.

Matt Colley sent the following information. To mark the anniversary of a mid-air collision that occurred between two B17 Flying Fortress aircraft on the 22nd February 1944, a one-day exhibition to commemorate this tragic event will be open to the public at Stanwick Lakes. Click this link to find out more: B17: A Wartime Tragedy Exhibition - February 2026 | Stanwick Lakes

10/2/26

Two new articles have been added to the Research page today:

Massacre of the Ju 52’s: By David Gray. The Palm Sunday Massacre had a profound impact on the German airlift capabilities in North Africa. The heavy losses suffered by the Luftwaffe severely affected their ability to supply and evacuate troops.

Peterborough Exemption Tribunals in WWI: By David Gray. “Undoubtedly it is a hard decision for many. To speak as though all the single young men left are now shirkers is to be something less than just. For there are those upon whom important business depends.”

We have received an invitation to attend the 2026 Peterborough Scale Model Club Show again, at the Welland Academy in Stamford. For various, boring, reasons neither Andy Flindall nor I can now attend, but Andrew Lingard and Terry Edge will be attending on behalf of our group. Thankyou Andrew and Terry.  Click here for the flyer.

8/2/26

CARL TIBBS you contacted me via our 'Contact Us' page but it seems your email address was not entered correctly. Please contact me, David Gray, by clicking the envelope icon above which will automatically send me your correct address.

3/2/26

Two new articles have been added to the Research page today:

Accidents in the First World War: by David Gray. This is the story of people from Peterborough, in the Armed Forces and at home, who had war related accidents during WWI. These accidents took place while the men were serving or working and some of them were fatal.

The Takoradi Route and the Lost Spitfire: By David Gray. This is the Story of Flight Sergeant ‘Bob’ Hills and his Spitfire JK808. Flt/Sgt Hills was lost ferrying his Spitfire over Nigeria along the Takoradi Route. Len Sanger knew Bob, and decided to find out what became of him.

1/2/26

Being the 1st of February (yes, that's one month gone already!) we have a new 'Item of the Month'. This one comes from Roger Negus and although appearing to be a fairly standard piece of A.R.P. equipment, it does give us a little extra information that is not, (I believe), that well known.

If anyone hasn't read Simon Wilson's article on the Research page about The Chilwell Munitions Factory it would be a few minutes well spent. Jonathan D'Hooghe has put a link to Simon's article in his marvellous weekly news sheet, Trench Lincs 1st February 2026. See introduction below:

Matt Colley has pointed us in the direction of a very well written article of local and topical interest, by Simon Wilson of the Peterborough Military History Group. Simon has written about the history of the Chilwell munitions factory that was established in west Nottingham in 1915.

27/1/26

Two new articles have been added to the Research page today:

Toulon - Death of a Fleet: by David Gray. The French Fleet was scuttled at Toulon by its own sailors on November 27, 1942. This was to prevent it from being captured by German forces, who, ignoring the Vichy Government, had invaded the "Free Zone" of France. This action took place in the nick of time, as German tanks had reached the docks and were firing on the ships in an attempt to make the French sailors surrender. This was probably the only tank v battleship action of the war.

Chilwell - The V.C. Factory: By Simon Wilson. The plan of the factory was drawn up on 7 September 1915, ground was broken on 13 September. By 8 January 1916 the first shells had been filled and by 22 January a batch had been transported to Shoeburyness for test firing.

20/1/26

Two new articles have been added to the Research page today:

Sweetheart Brooches of the Royal Navy: By Simon Wilson. A continuation of Simon's very informative articles looking at Sweetheart brooches throughout history - Simon writes "Over the years I have collected a few Naval sweetheart brooches. They are less common and often more expensive than the Army and Air Force brooches. Just as RAF brooches rely on wings, a lot of RN sweethearts rely on cap badges."

Spy Fever in Peterborough in WWI: By David Gray. Looking at the hysteria engendered in the local area by the 'perceived' threat from foreign spies in the First World War - People were beginning to see ‘spies’ everywhere, just four days after war was declared, two travellers from Filey were arrested as spies at the Peterborough G.N. Station. They were eventually released as harmless. This was just the beginning.

15/1/26

The meeting was very enjoyable last night, and Mike Murray's presentation was fascinating.

Keith Boucher, who organises the refreshment stall at each meeting, handed over the takings for 2025. This was an amazing £116.35 for group funds and is our highest total yet from beverage and cake sales. Keith puts this down to our increased membership last year in which we saw eleven new members sign up, and I am sure he is right.

A huge 'well-done and thank-you' to Keith, Ash, Irene, and everyone else who has made cakes, biscuits etc. and helped in any other way on the refreshment stall. These takings make all the difference to a small group such as ours and we couldn't survive without you.

Also, if we didn't have any tea or coffee available at the meetings, I think we would have a mutiny on our hands!

13/1/26

Two new stories have been added to the Research page today:

A Man with a Mirror: By Simon Wilson. The story of Colonel C. E. Haynes of the Royal Engineers, his miniature medals, and how he came up with a scheme to open up communications with a besieged garrison at a fortified mission station during the Zulu War.

The Shackling Crisis: By David Gray. Both Britain and Germany put prisoners of war in chains during the short-lived "Shackling Crisis" during World War II, a retaliatory cycle that was eventually ended by Canada’s intervention and mutual consent. 

7/1/26

I have introduced a new page on the website entitled 'Item of the Month.' This is self explanatory, each month a different item will appear, hopefully sent in by one of our members. All I need is a photograph and a description of an interesting item from your collection. I have started things off and it would be great if other members decided to get involved. Just click the envelope icon at the top of any page, write a description, attach a photo and click 'send'. 

6/1/26

As it's the first update of the year, three new stories have been added to the Research page today:

Peterborough Victims at Jutland: By David Gray. Total British losses during the Battle of Jutland were 6,784 men, total German losses 3,039. The Royal Navy lost 14 ships, including three battle cruisers. These are the stories of the casualties from Peterborough lost during the battle.

Three Indian Peace Medallions - 1919: By Simon Wilson. Sometimes, what seems like a simple search for information turns up nothing. Other times, you get a surprise. In this case, it was a bit of both. It all started as a search for information about a medallion I bought.

British Armoured Trains of WWII: By David Gray. In WWII, the British Army established 12 standard-gauge armoured trains to patrol vulnerable rail routes along the British coast. These armoured trains, eventually manned by the Home Guard, were primarily for coastal defence against German invasion. This is the story of those trains, plus a thirteenth, which only the British could think of!

3/1/26

A little more research regarding the picture below provides the following details:

These were men of 5 Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery, about to embark for the Far East to bolster forces trying to hold back the Japanese who were attacking through Malaya.

We can see Gunner Matterface, 5726895, fourth from the left, who is identified by his kitbag. He died in captivity aged 21, on 11th January 1944, and is buried in Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand.

The second man along is Lance Sergeant William George Rufus Swallow, 2035324, same regiment. Died in captivity aged 35 on 20th December 1943, and is buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.

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