This blog posts extracts from E J Rudsdale's diaries of life on the home front in Britain during the Second World War. Each extract was posted exactly 70 years after it was first written, marking the 70th anniversary of the Second World War between 2009-2015.
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I have contributed to a new book, The Essex Record Office in 70 Documents , which has been published to mark 70 years of support for Essex Record Office ( ERO ) by the Friends of Historic Essex . The book highlights the extraordinary breadth of the archives at ERO with the aim of inspiring all who read it to visit and discover more at ERO. All proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Friends…
Museum of Chelmsford, 21st June 2025 I was invited to give a talk at the Museum of Chelmsford on Rosemary Rutherford (1912-1972), a prolific artist who spent much of her life in East Anglia. Rosemary became a Second World War artist, depicting the war at home and abroad, and later a renowned designer of stained-glass windows. I explored her life and work and discussed the Rutherford Project, which…
The 80th Anniversary of VE Day was marked in Chelmsford with World War II exhibition displays in the Shire Hall by Anglia Ruskin University, Broomfield Church, Essex Record Office and the Hylands Estate. I was invited to give a talk on Chelmsford in the Second World War from the Journals of E.J. Rudsdale at Chelmsford Cathedral on 5th May 2025. With thanks to Chelmsford For You for organising such…
I am delighted to announce that Essex Record Office has kindly made an audio recording of an edited version of E.J. Rudsdale's diary entry for D-Day - June 6th, 1944 - to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of that momentous day. A blog article is also included, based on my recent talk at Essex Record Office as part of the Welcome to Essex conference, which considered the USAAF in Essex in the build…
'Welcome to Essex': Remembering the USAAF Don't miss this mini conference to be held at Essex Record Office in Chelmsford, Essex, recalling the impact that the Americans had on Essex 80 years on. Saturday 27 April 2024, 10.30-13.30 For more details visit: Essex Record Office/Events
New Book: They Stand Beside Us - The lives of Old Colcestrians who died in the Second World War I can highly recommend this recently published book, which tells the story of 73 former pupils and staff of Colchester Royal Grammar School who gave their lives during the Second World War. E.J. Rudsdale was a former CRGS student and many of the names of the fallen appear in his journals. The book is a…
Five years ago, on the 8th May 2015, the publication of E.J. Rudsdale's wartime journals on this blog, came to an end and today we mark the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. Living under the restrictions imposed by lockdown for Covid-19, has given me an even greater appreciation of those who lived under the restrictions of the Second World War for six long years. The celebrations for VE Day in 1945, and…
To mark the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, I have been inspired to write a play, entitled 'Forewarned is Forearmed' based on E.J. Rudsdale's diary account of his experiences of serving in the Royal Observer Corps. Rudsdale, himself, wrote a play about this experience, entitled 'Fox One', the name of the ROC Post where he served, but the play is sadly lost. If you would be interested in performing the…
Wednesday Warm. Showers at times. The great victory parades in the Park this morning. Hymns being sung. Saw they came back to the Bridge. Big crowds on the pavements. The Town Council came, some in a taxi and some walking, the police officers and the Mayor’s Beadle with the mace. They all stood on the steps of the Clarkson Memorial and a man took photos. The band stood alongside. The sun shone…
Tuesday Nightmare about 5am, of sirens blowing in Colchester. I was cycling along Magdalen St and turned up Military Rd just as they began. Breakfast at 9, a bright sunny morning, the sound of Walsoken bells on the breeze. The old sweep, Wiseman, came by whistling his interminable hymn – 'Now praise we all our God With heart and hand and voices – ' over and over again. The woman next door was…
