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1941 - “How Many Legs?’
Ald J A Hipkin reported to Spilsby R.D.C. on Monday, that at Thorpe (Wainfteet) the rats had raided the store of jam made by the Women’s Institute and practically eaten it all.
Capt Richardson: How many legs had these rats got? (Laughter.)
Mrs. I. M. Ward said it was unfortunately true. The building where the jam was stored abutted a drain. When the jam inspector came round she advised the jam-makers to leave the cupboard door open.The rats got in.
The Chairman: Not an ideal place for jam near a sewage drain.
Capt. Richardson: Thank God, I did not have any of it!
Mr. W. H. Mackinder: Can any of this jam be salvaged. (Laughter.)

1945
During enemy activity over an East Coast town, [Skegness] in the early hours of Sunday morning, various districts were subjected to cannon fire.
Bullets struck an amusement centre and the roadways near a cinema. A farm in the open country also received attention.
Two police officers, a Sgt. Barnes, and a P.c. Hodson,in a police car were machine gunned while crossing an open space in the district, and had a narrow escape, the road being struck immediately behind the vehicle.

1945
Sgt. Air Gunner Raymond Gamble, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. B. Gamble of 192 Drummond Road, Skegness, is missing on operations over enemy territory. He is an old Grammar School boy, and was always known by his schoolmates as “Billy.”
Pte. Ron Woodward, of the 14th Lincolns, serving in the B.L.A. is also missing. He is the 20 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodward, of 11 Alexandra Road, and before joining up was employed by Messrs. Butlin’s Ltd., as an electrician.
It is believed that he was captured unhurt, as he took up a position as an out, post a long way in front of his company to gain information of enemy positions. It is thought he and this companions were taken by surprise at night, there being no firing from the position. The next day the house was in German occupation.

We are currently researching whether these men were actually killed in the war or whether they were eventually found. Check back soon!

IN AN AIR RAID
If Caught Out-of-Doors

It is imperative to take cover if you see any kind of hostile activity in the air or if you hear anti-aircraft gun-fire in the neighbourhood. It may be an air battle; it may be a bombing raid. You may not have heard a warning. But you must resist the temptation to see what is going on, and take what cover you can.
If you are in the street you will have to decide quickly whether you can get home in, say, five minutes, without running.
Tell the police officer or warden that you are near your home and they will not hinder you from going there.

GO INTO PUBLIC SHELTER
If you are at some distance from home follow the guidance of the policeman or warden, and go into a public shelter. These have seating accommodation, and wardens will be present. Their job is to see that no particular shelter becomes over-crowded, to give help and advice, and to decide when it is safe to leave after the raid is over. They will detect the noise of rattles if gas is used, and tell people to put on the masks.
But, bear this in mind—they will not have any masks to give to people who have not brought their own!

MOREOVER, KEEP CHEERFUL
In a shelter everyone should do his or her best to keep everyone else’s spirits high. It is a trying experience, but it can be made bearable if people keep as cheerful as possible.

Public shelters in Skegness are available at (1) County Hotel, North Parade, (2) Seacroft Hotel, (3) Banana Stores, Corner of High Street and Briarway (4) Lumley Hotel (5) Grammar School, outside normal school hours for adults, (6) Ship Hotel.
1940

SKEGNESS OFFICER SHOT
REGRETTABLE ACCIDENT TO CAPT. R. S. ROBERTSON
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

Capt. R. S. Robertson, R.A., a former Skegness builder and contractor, whose wife and children live in Sunningdale Drive, was the victim of a serious accident last week when he was shot by a sentry through a misunderstanding, the bullet entering his head.
Blood transfusions and operations have been resorted to in what has been a great fight for his life. The latest news received at his Skegness home reports that Capt. Robertson’s progress was in the right direction and his escape is regarded as miraculous.

LOCAL ACTIVITIES
Capt. Robertson is a former army officer, and set up in business in Skegness as a builder and contractor after being demobilised after 1914-18. He has been closely identified as an officer of the No. 1 Skegness Coy of the Boys’ Brigade, and holds office in the St. Clement Lodge of Freemasons.
He joined the local Anti-Aircraft unit soon after its formation.