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"My Grandfather's Farm."

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ID
c116
Title
"My Grandfather's Farm."
Genre
Essay
Page Count
6
Word Count
2400
Publisher
Atlanta Constitution
Baltimore Sun
Los Angeles Times
New York Herald Tribune
Indianapolis Star
Washington Evening Star
This Week Magazine
Royal Air Force Journal
Publication Year
1944
Document Types
Full-text Online
Autobiographical
Topics
Pilots, War, Northamptonshire, Midlands, Higham Ferrers, Americans

Bates describes the George Lucas farm of the Midlands where he spent many boyhood days, now bulldozed into a vast air-force base run by Americans.

He contemplates the resulting deep ties created between two peoples, and then reminisces about the German war-prisoner "who worked on this hillside, on our farm" from 1914 to 1918 and bemoans that his return home apparently had no effect on his country's thirst for war. Bates wrote about this prisoner, Johann, in The Vanished World (p. 95) as well as in the fictional account "The Hessian Prisoner."

Overall, this short piece is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of Allied forces in the English countryside. A year later, Bates would publish an update on the land called "They Have Left the Farm."

Twenty-nine negatives from a series of photographs (shown below) that were taken by the Air Ministry to accompany the essay are held at the IWM. These photos were most likely taken in and around R.A.F. Chelveston. The Chequers public house (whose previous boniface was Bates' aunt Matilda) and St Mary's Church in Yelden (where Bunyan preached) also feature as do Bates' young sons, Richard and Jonathan.

Printed in This Week Magazine (July 16, 1944, pp. 4-5, short-form version), a Sunday supplement distributed with many US newspapers including:

  • New York Herald Tribune (July 16, 1944, p. F1)
  • Los Angeles Times (July 16, 1944, p. F4)
  • Atlanta Constitution (July 16, 1944, p. 4)
  • Baltimore Sun (July 16, 1944, p. T4)
  • Indianapolis Star (July 16, 1944, p. 4)
  • Washington Evening Star (July 16, 1944, pp. 4-5)

Extended version printed in the Royal Air Force Journal (October 1944); Slipstream, A Royal Air Force Anthology (1946, pp. 105-110, attached).

Gypsies and their caravan pass a Fortress
Gypsies and their caravan pass a Fortress
A U.S. sentry checks up on the identity of gypsies at the entrance to the camp
A U.S. sentry checks up on the identity of gypsies at the entrance to the camp
Little girls going home from school in a dog cart - a peaceful English country means of transport
Little girls going home from school in a dog cart - a peaceful English country means of transport
A typical small English farm
A typical small English farm
On their day off American G.Is walk down the main street of a quiet country village
On their day off American G.Is walk down the main street of a quiet country village (Kimbolton)
An American sergeant halts his bicycle to look down the street of an old English village
An American sergeant halts his bicycle to look down the street of an old English village (Kimbolton)
Where did you get those hats? ask two American soldiers of boys from a neighbouring Public School
"Where did you get those hats?" ask two American soldiers of boys from a neighbouring Public School
Got any gum chum? Two small English boys stop and ask an American
"Got any gum chum?" Two small English boys (Richard & Jonathan Bates) stop and ask an American
American soldier and airman show two small boys a baby rabbit caught on the airfield
American soldier and airman show two small boys (Richard & Jonathan Bates) a baby rabbit caught on the airfield
Bomb dump in a small copse
Bomb dump in a small copse
Armourer carries fin to a 2000 lb. bomb
Armourer carries fin to a 2000 lb. bomb
The American Red Cross visits the bomb dump with coffee and doughnuts for the men
The American Red Cross visits the bomb dump with coffee and doughnuts for the men
Flying Fortress and its ground crew. In the background is a small English village
Flying Fortress (Flak Alley Lil) and its ground crew. In the background is a small English village
Ground crew at work
Ground crew at work
B17 Flying Fortresses lined up, ready to take off on a sortie
B.17 Flying Fortresses lined up, ready to take off on a sortie
The two huge water tanks which supply this new American city
The two huge water tanks which supply this new American "city"
Flying Fortresses passing over the village church on their way to Germany
Flying Fortresses passing over the village church (St. Mary's, Yielden) on their way to Germany
Fortress landing after attacking Germany
Fortress landing after attacking Germany
Another Fortress circles the airfield - passing over the peaceful English countryside
Another Fortress circles the airfield - passing over the peaceful English countryside
Farm workers wave to a returning Fortress
Farm workers wave to a returning Fortress
Crews, back from a raid, on their way to interrogation
Crews, back from a raid, on their way to interrogation
American airmen stop to pet a spaniel near a picturesque old church in the village
American airmen stop to pet a spaniel near a picturesque old church (St. Mary's) in the village (Higham Ferrers)
American airmen looking at the interior of an 11th century English country church
American airmen looking at the interior of an 11th century English country church (St. Mary's, Yelden)
One looks at the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments inscribed on the wall
One looks at the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments inscribed on the wall
On Sunday, an American reads the Lesson
On Sunday, an American reads the Lesson
Some of the G.Is act as bellringers
Some of the G.Is act as bellringers
Jimmie the innkeeper of The Chequers - the local pub where Americans relax and mix with the country folk
"Jimmie" the innkeeper of "The Chequers" - the local pub where Americans relax and mix with the country folk
Jimmie and his wife, who welcome the Americans and make them feel at home
"Jimmie" and his wife, who welcome the Americans and make them feel at home.
GI Brides: An American sergeant and his English girlfriend watch the bombers return, Chelveston, Northamptonshire, 5 May 1944
GI Brides: An American sergeant and his English girlfriend watch the bombers return, Chelveston, Northants, 5 May 1944

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C116