January
In January 1940 the World is at War as we enter a new decade and more and more local people join up
We hear how a Conisborough man helped beat the Graf Spee and of a Denaby man’s wounds from Uboat shrapnel and how life in the service is better than the Pit
On the home fromt there are grumbles because A.R.P. exercises are held on Sundays
A Denaby boy drowns when playing on ice and there is another fatality at Cadeby in a shunting accident
George Kilner passes away to herald the close of Conisborough’s Glass making industry and Denaby United have mixed results – but get a good home draw against the ‘Nuts’!
February
In February 1940 Methodist Churches were knitting Gifts for Troops,
All the Babies Helmets had arrived together with Micky Mouse Hats
The Conisborough Food Committee discusses a complaint about a butcher
and a member states that miners prefer beef not mutton
The Collieries train ARP workers,
we have a picture of the Salvation Army singing company
and a Conisborough man goes on a ‘Perilous journey’
Denaby get a creditable draw at Peterborough
and a well known Footballer and Cricketer pass away
March
As Conisbrough & Denaby awaited News of the War in March 1940
The Conisbrough Wardens are told to be prepared and a former Works Manager passes away
The Denaby Vicar issues a stirring war message
A councillor asks whether the ‘big gun’ in the Park is aggravating the war as it was pointed towards Germany
Denaby United have a welcome upturn and win 4 games in March
including a seven goal thrashing of Grantam
and life attempts some normality in Conisborough & Denaby
April
In April 1940 another score of local men go to war, and we include pen pictures of many of them
with a widow sending three sons,
sportsmen and pals are joining the colours
An M.P. answers questions about a Conscientious objector
A man is sued for working a horse with a bad leg
A former Station Road Headmaster passes away
and sport struggles to keep going
as the United’s season ends in unlucky defeat at home to the champions, Peterborough
May
In May 1940 the first news of soldier casualties drifts into the district
and Food Control Red Tape produces concern at the Council meeting
The Sickle Works are featured on the BBC’s Northern Notebook
Long Service Awards are presented to to S.J.A.B. workers
and a “Hardy” Hero is welcomed back to Denaby,
while a Yorkshire Soldier condemns the Nazis as poor fighters
June
As our army retreats from Dunkirk , in June 1940, we hear of the casualties and escapes and we follow the epic events of June 1940 through the editorial of the South Yorkshire Times
The papers are full of the local men at the front A Conisbrough man joins the Scots Guards another is a Stoker in the ‘Renown’ and a Butcher becomes an Airmanwith many more fascinating stories of our local heroes
Then a miner goes to prison for ‘Mottying’ Youths jump from the Cadeby Pit Cage
and changes through ‘War Measures’ means that work will continue despite deaths at the coal face!
July
In July 1940 the country prepares for the German Onslaught and the “Times” editorial provides the national bulletin
We hear more stories of the lost and missing
as 19, 20 and 21 year olds go missing in France
More and more stories of families include the Jones family from Tickhill Street
who have 3 sons and a grandson serving
With food a sensitive issue
a woman forgets to hand in her ration book coupons and is summoned on 4 counts
Conisborough’s Wesleyan Minister, with a lively interest in the Scout movement
leaves for a position in Lincolnshire
The Church is packed after the Civic Sunday parade
August
As the war continues in August 1940
the “Times” editorial relates the Battle of Britain and reviews the “First Year of Armageddon”
there is a frantic search for a missing 4 year old
A Conisborough man is rescued from the torpedoed ship ‘Accra’
A Denaby man is killed when he thought an oncoming car was a bus
Reported Missing is a Great War veteran from Denaby
We hear of the 3 Burdett brothers from Denaby who were serving
There’s hope of football returning to Denaby
and Popular Septuagenarians are wed at Conisborough
September
The “Times” editorial each week acted as a National Bulletin on the state of the War
and in September 1940 America had agreed to sell 50 ‘old’ destroyers, the Battle of Britain had seen the Luftwaffe repulsed, German planes reverting to bombing civilians & the “Times” referred to Reprisals.
Conisborough Home Guard carried out an ambitious exercise against 100 paratroopers
There were consistent messages from the Front that the men were liking the life, whilst news of prisoners and casualties told the other side
Another miner dies when he is trapped in a steel door and a man is committed for trial after a brawl with his father
Denaby United begin their season with a great win and Denaby C.C. complete a successful season and a new Minister, a golden wedding and a exam result reach the news
October
In October 1940 World War II was dominating the headlines. The “Times” Editorial tells us that Japan had joined the Axis powers, Britain was alone against a German conquered Europe and we include a Audio of Churchhill’s broadcast to France.
News of more local people are revealed and there’s the extraordinary story of the Newsome family
whose father, four sons and daughter provided a ‘small army’ of its own
A missing submarine, bomb disposal expert, and soldiers as far afield as Iceland and India
as just some of the diverse local people caught up in the conflict
and then there’s Denaby United who are demolishing their opposition
with centre forward Ardron scoring 10 goals in just 2 games!
November
With Britain at War in November 1940 we follow the “Times” Editorial, which provided a compelling national view of the progress of the war, including the death of Chamberlain and Italy & Greece in the conflict
Food hit the headlines, with strict price controls a Co op Manager came under fire and a Conisborough shopkeeper for using butter without rations
A Denaby man dies in China and amongst the stories from the front
We hear of a brother & sister in the RAF, a Coldstream Guard, milkman, parachutist and sportman all involved in the worldwide conflict
Denaby United are carrying all before them – although a 7-0 victory was not easy!
and Conisborough and Denaby are raising Funds for a Spitfire!
December
As the War rumbles on in Europe, in December 1940, the Times Editorial
tells of the Sheffield Bombing and Churchil’s broadcast to the Italian people
We hear of a Denaby man fighting in Norway, two Brothers evacuated from Dunkirk
and the ‘Father of the Regiment’
The Spitfire fund brings a Nazi Plane to Conisborough
displayed in the Station Hotel field
Another miner is killed by a fall of roof after Shot Firing
Denaby United are upset about their unbeaten record
and are beaten for the first time the following week!