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Starting the Project
The Impact of the War in Torbay
Memories of Wartime Torbay: Biographies of the Contributors
The Exhibition Goes on Tour
A Well Visited Venue
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Memories of Wartime Torbay: Biographies of the Contributors
Location: Devon
Biographies of the Contributors
Lieutenant John Ballenger
Enlisted from the Reserve Officers Training Corps at college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. Joined the 29th. Infantry Division. Shot in the arm shortly after landing on the beach on D-Day and was sent back UK the next day as 'walking wounded'. After recovery saw more action in Germany. Awarded a Bronze Star for gallantry.
Madge Ballenger
Madge Oliver was a twenty two year old secretary when she met and married John Ballenger in September 1944. She was one of the GI brides.
Rosemary Firch
During the war fifteen year old schoolgirl Rosemary Birbeck. lived at St. Marychurch Town Hall where her father was caretaker. The town hall was very much at the centre of the community its ballroom being in use almost every night to entertain the servicemen. When not dancing Rosemary went to Torquay Girls' Grammar School.
Peter Foreman
A fourteen year old evacuee who had been bombed out of his home in Leicester. No school could be found for him so he was able to watch all that was going on from where he lived at Bayfort Mansions, Warren Road, Torquay. He had a grandstand view of harbour and the bay.
Stella Hockin
Stella experienced the war at first hand at her home in St Marychurch. One day her family were hiding in an Anderson shelter when a bomb exploded in the garden nearby.
Thelma Leach
Thelma was the daughter of a naval officer. Family tradition was continued when she joined the Womens' Royal Naval Service (WRNs) at Plymouth in 1942.
Christopher Madge
In June 1944 Chris was a fourteen year old teenager attending Torquay Grammar School. His family came to know the American troops when two of them were billeted at the family home.
Maurice Parnell
At this time Maurice was just 9 years old and a pupil at Cockington School. He was befriended by the American troops who provide him with a good supply of chocolate and other treats.
Ray Strevitt
Ray was brought up in Sussex but moved to Paignton when his father was working for the RAF in Torquay. Ray was one of the few people who could enter and leave the Bay while it was a protected area. He used a special pass to make his way to and from school in Newton Abbot.
Betty Walton Bouda
In 1944 Betty was aged 24 and was serving as a Petty Officer aboard HMS Sicala on the Dart Estuary. Her task before D-Day was to act as a courier taking sealed orders out to the assembling fleet.
John Wheatley
As a young lad John was a keen plane spotter, - there were many raids by enemy aircraft over the Bay. When the Americans arrived John was asked to help them to find their billets.
Celia Wood
At the time of D-Day Celia was twelve. She has vivid memories of the American Camp on the site of the playing field at Torquay Community College.
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