YEARS IN FOCUS
LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS OF THE 1940s

12th January 1945 - PONTEFRACT MAN PRISONER OF WAR
Lance Corporal G. Atkinson, whose home is at 5 Reams Terrace, Pontefract, and who was reported missing on October 9th, is now a Prisoner of War in Stalag 344, Germany.

12th January 1945 - PONTEFRACT NIECE MEETS HER UNCLE
Mr. and Mrs E. Sherburn, of 3 Weeland Terrace, Pontefract, have received a letter from their daughter, Private Eliza Sherburn, who is serving with the A.T.S. in Holland, saying that she has met her uncle, Driver Harold Falkinder, of the R.A.S.C.

2nd February 1945 - PONTEFRACT PILOT EARNS D.F.M
'The Express'' reported recently that Pilot Officer J.K. Davis, the son of Mr. P. Davis, of Parkside, Pontefract, had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

2nd February 1945 - SAVED PLATOON MATES ON WESTERN FRONT
How Private F. Crossley, of Pontefract, a former Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry cadet, and Lance Corporal W. Hawkins of Reigate, both of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, saved their platoon mates in recent fighting on the Western Front

16th February 1945 - MORE ADVENTURES FOR TELEGRAPHIST
More adventures have come the way of Telegraphist John Bannister, of the Royal Navy, whose home is in Star Yard, Pontefract. 

16th February 1945 - PONTEFRACT PRIVATE WITH THE D.L.I
In a recent exciting night attack on a Dutch village held by a German paratroop battalion, Private J. Onions, of Monkhill Drive, Pontefract, was one of the survivors of the leading company of Durham Light Infantry which led the attack

16th February 1945 - PRIVATE DIES OF WOUNDS
Mr. and Mrs G. Steel, of Stuart Street, Pontefract, have received notification from the War Office that their third son, Private Cyril Steel, of the Border Regiment, has died of wounds in South East Asia

16th February 1945 - SALUTE THE SOLDIER CAMPAIGN
It was reported at a meeting of the Pontefract Savings Committee, yesterday week, that the ‘Salute The Soldier’ savings campaign in the town, last year, realised £206,000

2nd March 1945 - CHARITY BALL IN PONTEFRACT
There was a good company at a charity ball, held on Friday in the Assembly Rooms, Pontefract.

2nd March 1945 - CHANCE OF FREEDOM
A further list of prisoners of war in German camps which are being overrun by the advancing Russian Armies

2nd March 1945 - A SOLDIERS DEATH
More details concerning the death of Bombardier Thomas Madden, of Colonel’s Walk, Pontefract, have been received

9th March 1945 - AWARDED MILITARY MEDAL
The Military Medal has been awarded to Corporal John Lunny, R.E. for his work in surveying and building roads near Caen

9th March 1945 - PONTEFRACT MAN RECEIVES D. S. M. FROM KING
Leading Wireless Telegraphist Barrett, the younger son of Mr. [‘Gunner’] and Mrs T. Barrett, West Avenue, has received his decoration from the King at an Investiture at Buckingham Palace

9th March 1945 - LIBERATED BY RUSSIANS
Mrs E. Redsell of Holmes Chambers, Market Place, Pontefract, has received official notification that her husband, L/Cpl Eric Redsell, East Surrey Regiment. who has been a prisoner of war since 1940, has been liberated by the Russians

9th March 1945 - MILITARY FAMILY BROTHER AND SISTER MEET
Two members of a military family have met in Italy recently

16th March 1945 - PONTEFRACT MAN MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES
The London Gazette has announced that Captain P.A. Tomlinson, of the Royal Artillery, the son of Mr. and Mrs T.P. Tomlinson, of Linden Terrace, Pontefract, has been mentioned in dispatches

16th March 1945 - PONTEFRACT MAN IN NAVAL SECRET
A Pontefract man played a part in what has been described as one of Britain's most closely guarded naval secrets

28th March 1945 - CERTIFICATE OF GOOD SERVICE WITH A.T.S
A certificate of good service with the A.T.S. was presented on Sunday to Company Sergeant Major, Elizabeth Mary Winn, of Pontefract

28th March 1945 - PILOT NOW "ALL SQUARE"
The following message was sent out by the Press Association on Monday; - "Outnumbered long range Mustang pilots of R.A.F. Fighter Command yesterday fought a fierce action with F.W.190’s over the Norwegian coast

Years in Focus is researched by Maurice Haigh and reproduced with the kind permission of the Pontefract and Castleford Express.