©Kirton News 2024

Congratulations to Kirton Primary School’s Outgoing Headteacher

Congratulations to Mrs Donley, who was awarded Headteacher/Principal/ Dean of the Year 2024 at the Education Awards in July. She was up against other headteachers, principals and university deans for the national title. The judges praised Mrs Donley ‘for supporting staff by motivating them and leading them to their full potential’.

 Amazingly, the nomination had been made by Pearson Education who had heard of the huge success of Kirton Primary School and put Mrs Donley forward for the award.

Mrs Donley retired from Kirton Primary School in July, having clocked up 17 years as the Headteacher at the school, and 22 years as a Headteacher in Lincolnshire. Mr Neall is the new Headteacher, having previously been Head of School.

What a great note for Mrs Donley to end her career on!

Kirton Parish Council’s Picnic in the Park

Kirton’s first (and fingers crossed, annual) “Picnic in the Park” took place on Saturday, August 17th at the Town Hall Rec, and what a fantastic day it was!

With around 250 people joining in the fun throughout the day, the event was a resounding success. The public’s enthusiasm was truly infectious and it was heartwarming to see everyone turn up with such positivity, eager to mingle and make the most of the day. From toddlers to the young-at-heart over 80’s, attendees enjoyed four hours of delightful family fun in a relaxed, calm atmosphere.

The idea was simple: bring your own picnic, soak up the lovely weather, and enjoy good company on the grass. And enjoy it they did! The event featured a bouncy castle, face painting, and refreshments—all FREE, courtesy of the parish council.

Maxine’s Cakes were available for those who wanted to purchase these amazing confections. We were joined by the Chair of the Parish Council and our newly elected MP, Richard Tice. All in all, it was a great day for everyone. For those who couldn’t make it, don’t worry!

The council is keen to make this an annual event, and with the incredible feedback we received, next year’s picnic promises to be even bigger and better. Ideas from parishioners poured in, from using the fire station to having an ice cream van, adding a second bouncy castle (one for the older kids and one for the little ones), and even a slide. Lawn games and a possible a bottle stall were mentioned.

Richard Tice suggested a Short Tennis competition (councillors keen to get funding for our village asked if he’d sponsor that event - feedback soon!) We’re very excited to see what next year brings! A big Thank you if you came along to support the event.

In Memoriam: David Russell

Helena Saunby contacted Kirton News recently to inform us of the passing of her uncle, David Russell at the age of 95. David was born in Kirton and lived down Meeres Lane when he was small. He then moved to Dennis’s house down Willington Road. Helena said that he always loved Kirton and even after his father, Jack Russell had died, he continued to travel from his home in Canada to visit once or twice a year until he was 90.

RCN Proud: From Lincolnshire to Halifax

David Russell served in the Royal Navy/Royal Canadian Navy for nearly 30 years. David Russell was born on May 28th, 1929, in Kirton, North Boston, Lincolnshire, England. When he was 14 years old, he served in the British Army Cadet Force during the Second World War from 1942 to 1946.

Mr. Russell joined the Royal Navy on December 3rd, 1946, and then the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in September of 1954. He first took his training in HMS Riely in England, and his Canadian Navy training at HMCS Cornwallis and HMCS Stadacona in Nova Scotia.

The courses that David took were Basic Seaman (Battleships), Submarine Training in HMS Dolphin in Gosport, England, Canadian Submarine Training in Halifax, Canadian Navy Senior Leadership (Instructor), and Sonar (both sea and air).

The ships and submarines that David Russell served on were the battleships HMS Howe, HMS Duke of York, and HMS Pelican, and submarines HMS Broadsword, HMS Tally-Ho, HMS Astute, HMS Trespasser, HMS Turpin, HMS Totem, and HMS Andrew. He then transferred to the RCN and served in HMCS Tapir, HMCS Talent, HMCS Trespasser, HMCS Alderney, HMCS Artemis, and HMCS Onondaga as a Coxswain. David’s first two ships were HMCS Skeena and HMCS Annapolis. Then, after these ships, he served as a financial counselor in HMCS Stadacona, Nova Scotia, from 1970 to 1972.

The countries, oceans, and seas that Mr. Russell served on were many. A few were England, Canada, the Atlantic Ocean, Lebanon, Malta, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Arctic Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Persian Gulf.

For his service, Mr. David Russell was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Jordan Service Medal (Commemorative), and the Canadian Forces Decoration and 2 Bars. He also earned the NATO and the United Nations Medals but did not apply for them.

David was discharged in August of 1975, and his rank was Master Warrant Officer. His trade at discharge was Weapons Tech. David was married to Doreen Nelson from Boston, Lincolnshire, England, for 63 years. Mr. Russell also served as a volunteer with the Royal Canadian Benevolent Fund for many years.

Some interesting facts about Mr. Russell: He was transferred to Canada on relief, and after 15 years in Canada, David was finally sent back to HMS Dolphin, England, from where he was first sent to Canada. During those 15 years, he was a Sonar Operator, and one of the best in the RCN. He was transferred to HMCS Shearwater to the Helicopter Service, Royal Canadian Air Force, as a Sonar Air Operator.

Mr. Russell had a special invitation to attend British Admiral John Fieldhouse’s funeral in 1992 at Westminster Abbey, which was also attended by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Admiral Fieldhouse was a good friend of David, and they served on many ships together.

By Vincent Joyce,
Pictou County Military Museum

Freedom Fighters
Home Guard ‘cover’ for last ditch defenders

A Lincolnshire secret shared by more than 200 men but kept for more than 25 years is out this week with the publication of a book telling the story of a proposed 1939-45 war ‘British Resistance Movement.’ Boston and district figures largely in it, with an account of clandestine meetings, weapons and explosives stored in private homes in the town and area and an underground army secret wireless aerial on Boston Stump.

The book, a surprise even to the men who are listed in it and whose mystery war is now revealed for the first time is ‘The Last Ditch’ by David Lamp. It is sub titled ‘The secrest of the nationwide British Resistance Organisation and the Nazi plans for the occupation of Britain 1940-1944.

Among those who will be reading it with very special interest are former underground group leaders Captain Frank Dawson of Dalby Hall, Spilsby: Captain Leslie Clark and Captain W.E. Greenwood, both of Pilleys Lane, Boston and Lt. W.J. Ground of Spalding. They are among British Resistance leaders mentioned in the book.

As the title indicates, the book tells the story of preparations made in the dark days of Dunkirk for fighting an underground war in the event of Britain being occupied by the Germans after an invasion.

Hand picked

Senior army intelligence officers with experience of guerrilla war set up the organisation first as a scratch emergency force ‘last ditch’ defenders, then as a well-trained body of irregulars equipped to strike at the enemy from secret bases.

All the men were handpicked for their character and reliability, their fighting spirit and willingness to make sacrifices for patriotic reasons and their knowledge of their home areas.

First the leaders were chosen, then they were allowed to select their own men for patrols.

Most of them were in the Home Guard and continued to hold nominal posts in it but their real role was that of underground fighter.

All over Lincolnshire, as along the whole east and south coasts, secret bases were established in safe houses, derelict buildings.

There they held meetings, drew up plans, trained in the use of weapons and explosives and practised other deadly skills.

So strict was security that to this day, many of them have not told their wives and families anything about it.

Friends of relatives and even working or Home Guard colleagues know nothing about the underground activity. Few of them mentioned it after the war and so it has remained an almost total secret until now.

“It was all a very long time ago” says Spilsby Farmer Mr Frank Dawson, underground commander for South Lincolnshire during the war.

Eventually his home, Dalby Hall was the regional head quarters but when he was recruited, HQ was in the new demolished Blankney Hall. A 1914-15 army officer, Mr Dawson commanded the Alford company of the Holme Guard until he agreed to go underground.

In the days when Britain faced the threat of invasion he took part in top security meetings, built up patrols for South Lincolnshire, Supervised the establishing of secret hideouts, and helped to train the men in guerilla tactics.

“It was a kind of warfare that appealed to me” he admitted. “I was never much for army routine but when the time came to disband, I just forgot about the whole thing. I never thought anything would ever be known about our activities.”

Lincolnshire had 181 men formed into 31 secret patrols under nine group commanders and had 41 hideouts form which they would have operated.

“We reckoned we might last about three weeks after going underground and fighting back at invasion forces.” Mr Leslie Clark, Engineer for the Black Sluice Drainage Board says frankly.

He finished his underground war as a major in charge of a large area. When he was recruited from the Home Guard he had been in Boston for about years coming from Cambridgeshire.

He took over an area and a number of patrols that had already been established at a time when the underground army was being trained as an attack force.

It had been equipped with weapons such as machine guns, that were in short supply for even the regular forces following the evacuation of the Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and also with explosives.

Secret Meetings

“The plan was for us to go to our hideouts when the enemy was approaching our area, and lie low until they had passed. Then we had to mount hit and run raids to disrupt their organisation as much as possible.

“We were expendable and we knew it but none of us felt heroic. Everybody would have been sharing pretty much the same dangers if the Germans had come and at least we were trained to hit back.”

He recalled secret meetings at his home (then in Spilsby Road) with patrol members coming after dark by pre-arranged routes to avoid being seen. As far as he knew, not even his neighbours ever noticed anything unusual.

His wife was one of the few relatives of men of the underground army who knew something about it. She had to know, for the garage at the side of the house was packed with explosives and was often a weapons cache.

His role was similar to that of Mr. W.E. Greenwood, now headmaster of Park County Junior School, a magistrate and holder of the M.B.E. awarded for this services to youth.

Mr Greenwood, then Captain Greenwood was in the underground army before Mr Clark and operated from headquarters at Butterwick, where he was headmaster of the local school.

It was when the Boston area organisation grew too large for one man that Mr Clark was brought in to help him.

Mr Greenwood’s home at Butterwick also often served as a storage place for weapons and explosives so his wife too was in on the secret.

“My wife was always very uncomfortably aware of the explosives stored under the stairs whenever the air-raid siren sounded” says Mr Greenwood.

Like the others he has not thought for many years now of the days when he practised lightning raids after dark on a ruthless enemy; the weekends he spent in underground chambers dug out of the side of a field band; or the secret meetings in different places and the training sessions at special Commando type centres.

Deadly Serious

“We are deadly serious prepared to accept the risks, and in the end we were well trained enough to have given a very good account of ourselves.” he says now.

“I’m proud to have been part of it and to have served with such a hand-picked body of men - and I still think it was a good idea.”

Accountant Mr W J Ground of Spalding, once Lt Ground and the group leader of four resistance patrols, still does not know how he came to be picked.

“I was and am completely unmilitary and at the end of it all I still didn’t know how to salute. But I admit they did make me pretty handy with weapons and explosives.”

Never Talked

His wife and family never knew anything about his secret war. Until they read the book, they still won’t. He never talked about it then or since: although now his wife will know why Captain Hamilton Hill, the army officer who organised the fieldwork and set up the Lincolnshire “underground army,” sent them a wedding present as Mr Ground was married during his auxiliary service.

All over Lincolnshire, as the book is read, the secret will be coming out. David Lampe’s book reveals that his research cleared up at least one domestic misunderstanding.

One wife had been convinced that her husband who kept disappearing all through the was, was having an affair with another woman!

This information has been taken from 'The Last Ditch' by David Lampe, a book about Britain's resistance against the Nazis in World War II. The more specific information was kindly sent in to me by Colin Hayes, a resident local to Kirton. Please look out for our October edition as there will be a follow up article concerning none other than Kirton's own Fred Fossitt.