Memories of Second World War put on Houghton Heritage website

Sep 5 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

WARTIME memories from one North town have been put online to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War.

The site contains a growing collection of rare memories and information about life in Houghton-le-Spring between 1939-45.

Paul Lanagan, 28, a local historian who has published books on the history of Houghton, said: “The Houghton Heritage website has been online for a couple of years now and has a growing collection of rare photos, articles and memories, but I am particularly pleased to launch the World War Two section. I have always been interested in the Home Front and it was fascinating to discover what the people of Houghton went through.

“I focused on what the town was like during the war. These memories will be of interest to lots of people. It will be really great for young kids to see what the world was like back then.

“Things are just so different today, it is hard for them to imagine life during war.”

Among the memories on the site is that of 80-year-old Harry Smith, who was 10 years old in 1939.

He talks of remembering the older teenagers in Houghton leaving to fight: “We watched them walk away up the street in their brand new khaki and kit, never dreaming that it would be five years before we saw them again.”