Page 28 - Moreton Village Only Book

28 Moreton Village Only

The Log Book of Mr. Brand, the ARP
warden who recorded two high explosive
bombs that fell on Moreton in 1940.

Mr. Brand, who owned a chemists shop in Thame for many years, was an ARP (Air Raid
Protection) Warden and his logbook, which has been carefully preserved, gives an accurate
account of the enemy bombing that was taking place in this area. He recorded that two high
explosive bombs fell on Moreton at about 8.35p.m. on the evening of 18th September
1940. The first bomb fell behind Leys Farm causing an 18-foot crater and the second in
the field behind three adjoining cottages (Willow Cottages), some 30-40 yards away from
the properties. His report gives details of the damage caused, which in both cases was
superficial only. Mr. Brand’s report goes on to relate that an explosion heard on the following
evening was due to two of a total of five time bombs going off in Moreton. One of the
unexploded bombs was examined by a Bomb Disposal Unit and declared void and safe and on
advice was left for a few days before removal was attempted. Another entry in Mr. Brand’s log
mentions two explosions heard at 10.08p.m. on 21st October 1940 and also that a report
had been received from the night watchman at the brickworks a time bomb had fallen near
a cottage at the turning into Moreton from Rycote Lane. This bomb was not located that night
and it may be that it remains one of several still undetected in the ground. We do know that the
unexploded bomb behind Jessmere could not be recovered and is there to this day.