New book reveals Nether Edge’s wartime history

Created by the Nether Edge History Group, the 180-page book features first-hand accounts of people living in the area at the time, as well as military stories of locals who served in the armed forces.

‘Nether Edge in the Second World War’ was created largely during lockdown, by local history group members, John Austin, and John Cornwell.

“The book examines the war-time experience of people in Nether Edge, and how their lives were changed during the conflict, said John Austin, aged 73.

"The second part of the book, profiles servicemen and women who served in the armed forces in the Second World War."

"When the project was suggested, in November last year, a small research team from the history group came together to start work on it.

"There will have been many more residents who served and lost their lives but, surprisingly, there is no war memorial in Nether Edge, so we had only two names to begin with.

"Through a lot of research and digging, we uncovered 38 stories - 13 of which are featured in considerable detail.

"Some of them were truly remarkable and, between them, cover many theatres of the war across the globe.”

In the last three years, the Nether Edge History Group has produced two books about the history, people and buildings of Nether Edge, and planned to release this latest one on VE day, back in May, for the 75th anniversary.

John Cornwell, aged 81, said: “The pandemic mucked up the time schedule, but the book has now been printed.

"In essence, it is two books in one – the first part examining what happened in Nether Edge during the war years, and the effect on individual lives, and then the military stories.

"There’s a final chapter called ‘Walking the War,’ which is essentially a walking guide to spotting reminders of the war that still remain in the area to this day.

"The final book looks terrific, and we must thank Peter Machan who did the layout of the book, and created two maps which feature in the book, showing where the bombs landed, and whereabout in Nether Edge the servicemen lived.”

The book is £10 and is now available by emailing [email protected]