On Friday I attended Ashton Remembers, an event hosted by the Ashton 1945 Group. The group preserves the memories of Preston residents who lived through World War II. Friday’s event showcased letters, medals, and personal stories; powerful reminders of the resilience and humanity of that time. The event was held at St Michael’s church in Ashton and included many contributions from their parishioners.
Remembering those killed
Jane, a speaker from Ashton 1945, shared insights from St Michael’s Parish Magazine describing parishioners’ efforts to fundraise a World War II memorial. One proposal even suggested that returning veterans pay for it themselves, a notion later abandoned. Jane reflected sadly on the idea that those who had already sacrificed so much might have been asked to fund their own remembrance. The money was eventually raised for the memorial.
Read more: Meet the group recording Preston’s World War II memories
Women in the war
Julia, another member of Ashton 1945, highlighted the immense contribution of women to the war effort. She described the Second World War as a truly total war, noting that one in three Britons, around 15 million people, were entitled to wear a uniform. Remarkably, seven million of them were women.
Unlike during World War I, when women’s roles were more limited, World War II saw women’s participation institutionalised. In 1938, both the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) and the Women’s Institute (WI) offered their support to the government. By December 1941, women aged 18 to 50 were subject to conscription for war work, and single women aged 20 to 30 were required to serve in auxiliary services, industry or the civil service. Shortly after 90% of single women and 80% of married women in this age group were actively contributing to the war effort.
However, Women’s bravery often went unrecognised, Julia added. For example, although they could track enemy aircraft and aim anti-aircraft guns, they were forbidden from firing them as society saw them as ‘life givers, not life takers’.
Read more: Six parts of Preston’s history that the city could make more of
Tales of loss and support
Julia also recounted the story of Violet, a parishioner who was living in London during the war. Violet was a fire watcher and lived near the West Coast Railway, while her younger siblings were evacuated, Violet stayed behind to serve. One night, she swapped shifts with a friend, a decision that saved her life as her home was bombed while she was working, tragically killing her parents.
Jane recounted the story of Susanna, a local woman who had already lost her husband in World War I and later had to wave off her only son, Thomas, as he departed to fight in the Second. The tale was a sombre reminder of the multi-generational toll the two world wars took on British families.
In Preston, which was deemed a ‘safe’ area, both the WI and WVS were responsible for organising the placement of evacuees. One local woman, Mrs Foster, famously took in 11 children during the war, even as she mourned the loss of three of her own. Her former home now serves as a dental practice in Ashton.
The WRNS
She also highlighted the work of the WRNS, the women’s royal navy service. These women carried out highly confidential duties during the war, many of which remained secret for decades.
Another member Stepehen shared that one former WRN he knew, Kate Williams from Portsmouth, once found herself hitching a lift back from London, only to be picked up by none other than Winston Churchill himself. He reportedly greeted her with gruff ‘Get in, little Wren’!
A monument to the WRNS was finally erected in London in 2005, a long-overdue tribute to their service.
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Letters from the front
The Ashton 1945 Group also displayed a collection of letters written during the war. Among them were the correspondences of James Singleton, a soldier who trained in Catterick before being deployed to India. In his letters to his fiancée, May, he wrote with humour about the challenges of training and that it was ‘damned hard to keep awake in lectures’ and that sometimes he went a week without a beer! His light-hearted tone reminded listeners that even amidst the grim realities of war, soldiers found ways to laugh.
Local heroes and lasting legacies
Ashton 1945 member Linda spoke of the ‘Astonians’ who took part in the D-Day landings, reading letters from Thomas Kellett and Maurice Weeks. Their correspondence captured the fear and determination of those who were told that one in three of them would not survive.
Stephen shared the story of Laurie Turner, who carried out licensing duties in Ashton during the war. One evening, he overheard a man in a pub claiming to be Dutch. Having grown up next door to a Dutch family, Turner recognised the accent as false. His quick thinking led to the man’s arrest, he was, in fact, a German spy.
Read more: Notable people of Preston: Sydney Knowles BEM, a Preston born hero
Keeping memories alive
The Ashton 1945 Group continues to honour Preston’s wartime generation by collecting stories, photographs, and artefacts that illuminate the community’s role in the conflict. Their dedication ensures that the bravery, humour, and humanity of those who lived through World War II are never forgotten.
If you have any World War II memorabilia or stories about yours or other’s experience, they would love to hear from you! Whether it’s photos, insights into daily life in wartime or a story of your own get in touch with Ashton 1945 by email jgroberts1966@gmail.com.
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