George Polley’s life history, read by George Polley. Chapter seven (4138a), 1939
Highlights in this oral history recording include:

0.00 Failed driving test as car not fit. Passed in January
01.45 Telephone installed. Marks Tey 134. Local exchange 3 women under Mr Pritchard
02.40 General registration in June. George was in reserve occupation
03.40 Drove Mr & Mrs Elcombe to see son near Bury St Edmunds
05.50 1 September arrival of Evacuees. Ellesmere technically in Aldham house – Mr and Mrs Smiththe headmaster and wife from a school near Boston.
Blackout, car lights masked, 2'' paint lines on bumpers. Rising petrol prices. Father in ARP, mother in WRVS organised local identity cards. Menace from loose barrage balloons
11.40 1940 – heavy snow. Problem with ice getting to Bourchiers Hall Aldham
14.04 Fire at Copford Green
14.40 Summertime clock started 25 February
15.30 German bomber crashes at Clacton
16.30 Formation of Local Defence Force (Home Guard)
17.00 Forced leading of Wellington Bomber by Aldham Hall – and later take off
18.40 18 May dog fights above Writtle College
20.25 Parachute mines
22.15 Evacuees from Lincolnshire return – later head Mr Smith dies in Far East
25.35 War matters – wooden shutters over windows, radar pylons at Bromley, permit zones, air ship sheds at Cardington camouflaged