Second World War
Subjects
Follow these links if you would like to find information about Bedfordshire during World War II.
Airfields
Articles by Bedfordshire Libraries
Images
- Tempsford Airfield - Barn
- Tempsford Airfield - Commemorative Sign
- Tempsford Airfield - Interior of Barn
- Tempsford Airfield - Interior of Bar
Aircraft
Books
Images
Army Cadets
Images
- Biggleswade Army Cadets - Inspection by H.M. The Queen, 1944
- Biggleswade Army Cadets - Salute the Soldier Week, 1944
Auxiliary Territorial Services
Reminiscences
- Second World War ATS Service of Eleanor Mary Watts by Mrs Dorothy Sewell
- Royal Observer Corps by Joan Corfield
Bombs
Reminiscences
Civil Defence
Images
The Home Front
Articles by Bedfordshire Libraries
Newspaper Articles
- Barton News (Extract) (Removal of iron railings)
Home Guard
Images
-
Biggleswade Home
Guard - Inspection by H.M. The Queen, 1944 - Biggleswade Home Guard - Inspection by H.M. The Queen, 1944
- Langford Home Guard
Reminiscences
- Reminiscences of Home Guard service by Mr Victor Brunt (Biggleswade)
Field Ambulance Service (Army)
Reminiscences
Leisure and Recreation
Image
Music
Articles by Bedfordshire Libraries
Image
- Front Cover of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Farewell Concert, 1945
- Bedford Corn Exchange - BBC Music Day - BBC in WWII Bedford Commemorative Plaque
- BBC Radio WW2 Broadcasts control room and studios Commemorative Plaque
Notes from the Newspapers
Extracts and snippets from local Bedfordshire newspapers during the war years.
Parachute Regiment
Reminiscences
Royal Air Force
Reminiscences
Royal Observer Corps
Reminiscences
Royal Visits
Images
- Biggleswade Army Cadets - Inspection by H.M. The Queen, 1944
- Biggleswade Home Guard - Inspection by H.M. The Queen, 1944
- Biggleswade Home Guard - Inspection by H.M. The Queen, 1944
- Visit H.M. The Queen to Biggleswade, 1944
Video (supplied on licence by the Imperial War Museum, London)
- Princess Elizabeth visits Bedford, where she reviews a parade of the Women's Land Army, St. Paul's Square, 14th February 1946. Members of the WLA march past Princess Elizabeth who stands on a raised viewing podium. WLA members drive tractors and hay trucks past the reviewing podium. Copyright Imperial War Museum, London.
Secret Operations
Articles by Bedfordshire Libraries
- Recording Studio (Milton Bryan)
- The Propaganda War (Woburn)
Images
- Inter-Service Special Intelligence School Commemorative Plaque (Bedford)
- Japanese Language School Commemorative Plaque (Bedford)
- Japanese Spy School Commemorative Plaque (Bedford)
VE Day
Images
- VE Day celebrations in Edward Road (Biggleswade)
Newspaper Articles
VJ Day
Images
- VJ Party Havelock Road (Biggleswade)
War Memorials
Images
- Bedford Road War Memorial (Kempston)
- Memorial to the crew of Liberator KN736 in Cockayne Hatley churchyard
War Weapons Week
Newspaper Articles
- War Weapons Week (Extract) (Barton)
Weapons Production and Development
Articles by Bedfordshire Libraries
- Development of the Limpet Mine (Bedford)
- Royal Ordnance Factory (Elstow)
Women's Land Army
Articles by Local Historians
- The history of Bedfordshire Women's Land Army by Stuart Antrobus (including a history of the individual hostels and a roll call of Bedfordshire Land Girls)
Further Reading:
Page last updated: 7th November 2023