As we collect together and review the various
special activities in our village in war time, we must observe two
outstanding features:-
1. that Upton has essentially close associations with the Army (see Government House, Upton Lodge, the Dale, Moston Hall).
2. that in both World Wars, and perhaps particularly in World War II, there was an excellent organisation of the civilian population for defence purposes.
World War I
We are reminded of the part this village played in the first World War by our war memorial, a monument of dignity and simple beauty, erected in memory of the twenty-five men of the village who fell in the Great War (1914-18). (The dates 1939-45) have been since added). It is in the form of a Celtic cross of white Darley Dale stone, and has been erected on the supposed site of the old village cross, at the junction of the (93) four roads near the Parish Church. It is 14 ft. high including base and steps. The site for the memorial was given to the village by Sir Philip H. B. Grey-Egerton, Bart. in memory of his two sons, whose names are inscribed on the memorial, and it was he who performed the unveiling ceremony. Nearly all the village was there for the dedicatory service, and the combined choirs of Upton Church and the Congregational Church took part. The memorial was paid for by subscriptions, and the response was so generous that a sum of money was left over formed an endowment for the upkeep and cleaning of it.
In both wars, too, the farmers of the neighbourhood played an important part. Mr. R. Ithell has recorded in his scrap-book that "The medium and small farmer did the most ploughing in proportion to his acreage" and that "The Army bought hay in February, 1917, from the Upton farmers, and as cold winds followed a very cold Winter until 30th April, there was no grass for the cattle - in all a bad time for farmers." Extra land ploughed up to comply with Government regulations included two holes of the Upton Golf Course and the Children's Playground.
World War II
There were many men and women from Upton in the various
branches of the Fighting Services during this war. War establishments in the
village included:-
1. Camp and Gun site in Acres Lane.
2. Home Guard Unit, with headquarters in
Acres Lane.
3. National Fire Service Unit in Upton Grange, Church Lane. This began as the
Auxiliary Fire Service in 1940. It was nationalized in August, 1941, and with a
staff of forty was the Divisional H.Q. of No. 26 Fire Fighting Area, Liverpool.
Extension huts in Church Lane were built in 1942. The N.F.S. remained here
until 1945.
4. Searchlight Unit in Newton Lane. (94)
The chief organisations among the civilian
population were:-
1. A.R.P. (Air-Raid Precaution) Activities.
The work of this section started many months before war
began; classes were held in the village school, and many adults were instructed
and trained in various branches of First Aid, including methods of dealing with
gas warfare.
When war was declared, the Men's Institute at the village crossroads became H.Q,. of a mobile First Aid unit. This was under the direction of Mr. Chew, who organised A.R.P. work for Chester and Tarvin R.D.Cs. and Hoole U.D.C. This mobile unit consisted of a fully-equipped travelling van. About sixty men and women from the village worked, in rota, to staff it. These consisted of nurses, ambulance men, light rescue squads, messengers and drivers, and there was, of course, a doctor attached to the section. Whenever a call came through from the Central Control at Hoole our mobile First Aid unit was ready to help. When the main buildings of the Barrowmore Sanatorium received a direct hit from a bomb in 1941, causing many casualties, the Uptonunit was the first on the scene.
In January, 1941, Mr. Hugh K.
Frost, J.P., presented a mobile canteen to the section, and again, manned by
Upton helpers, this canteen served throughout the war, helping in the Liverpool
"blltz-es" until May, 1945, when it was presented to the City of
Chester Cadet Welfare Committee.
When the war ended, the Upton
A.R.P. unit was thanked by Mr. Herbert Morrison for all its valuable work.
2. Street Wardens. Every
road in the village had its rota of wardens on duty each night. These wardens
made sure that "blackout" precautions were strictly observed, and at
the same time were ready to deal with any emergency.
3. Wornen's Voluntary Service
(W.V.S.) In August 1939, a branch of the W.V.S. was formed in Upton
by Mrs. Epton. Their first task was to make preparations for dealing with the
evacuation of schoolchildren from Liverpool. The Golf Club House was taken over
as a school. W.V.S. members made over one hundred straw (95) palliasses, then
set to work to clean and clothe the children. Homes were found for them all
among the inhabitants of Upton, and some of these children became so attached
to their war-time homes and foster-parents, that they remained in Upton after
the war was over, and a few of them have been officially adopted.
Many members of the W.V.S. were
also doing A.R.P. work, and many Red Cross work. From the day the Moston
Military Hospital opened, Upton W.V.S. supplied voluntary staff to assist with
meals seven days per week; some members worked in the Hospital library, and
when an outbreak of 'flu occurred, voluntary staff were supplied to help in
wards and kitchens.
Another special piece of work done by the W.V.S. was the making of over 160 camouflage nets in preparation for D-Day.
At the end of the war, Lady Reading wrote personally to
Mrs. Epton, as W.V.S. leader in Upton, to thank the group for all their war
work, and to congratulate them on their wonderful effort.
4. A Voluntary Aid Committee was also formed,
composed of members of the Parish Council, the Women's Institute and the
W.V.S., and to every member of H.M. Forces from the district a parcel of food,
knitted comforts and money was sent every Christmas.
5. National Savings Movement. This was very well
supported in Upton, and is dealt with in the Women's Institute section. It is
interesting to note that during Victory Week alone, in April, 1943, £15,000 was
raised in Upton, more than five times the target figure.
6. The Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance
Association. Many of the women of our village played their part in wartime
as members of these movements, and, as such, helped in many ways too numerous
to mention; some by nursing, some by driving ambulances, some by meeting
relatives or wounded men and conveying them to Moston Hospital, and then to a
hostel specially organised for their use. (96)
Others among our community gave valuable help as
blood donors.
We, in Upton, all sincerely hope that there will never
again arise the need for such organisations as these. In their place, there is
now a very flourishing branch of the British Legion (see section on Clubs).