Incidents in Willington in World War Two
Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service is fortunate in having Air Raid Precautions files from Bedfordshire County Council covering World War Two. the following incidents from Willington are recorded in the files:
- On 10th October 1940 an R. A. F. training aircraft force landed in a field 50 yards from the railway line and 400 yards west of Willington station, the pilot was unhurt [WW2/AR/CO/2/2].
- On 23rd October 1940 two High Explosive bombs were dropped in a field near Sheer Hatch Wood [WW2/AR/CO/2/2].
- On 5th January 1941 a land mine dropped in an open field causing extensive damage to buildings [WW2/AR/CO/2/3].
- In March 1941 Captain Miller, Staff Officer to County Air Raid Precautions Controller was mistakenly arrested by a Brigadier at Willington whilst the captain was travelling to Biggleswade in connection with Civil Defence [WW2/AR/C/2/91].
- On 9th April 1941 incendiary bombs dropped were in fields in the parish [WW2/AR/CO/2/3].
- In October 1941 J. B. Godber, Head Warden of Willington, resigned in protest at the attitude of the County Council Executive Committee. He was not the only man to do so during the course of the war. Joseph Bradshaw Godber was Conservative M. P. for Grantham 1951-1979, he was Secretary of State for War in 1963 immediately following the disgraced John Profumo and was created Baron Godber of Willington in 1963 [WW2/AR/C/2/119].