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The Ack Ack Camp 1939-1945
In the early part of the war Whickham had a Ack Ack camp, (an AntiAircraft Guns and Research camp). There were a number of big guns there and also vital equipment. The camp operated by W.A.A.C. (Womens Auxillary Army Corps) was located on Fellside Road, where the bungalows are now on the Rectory Estate, going towards the Glebe. This camp was not large and the accommodation consisted of wooden huts.
There were various nationalities in the camp including soldiers who had been evacuated from Dunkirk, and some Americans. Eva Tingler relates a story about the young men in the camp. Apparently one day a group of young Americans knocked on her and a few of her neighbours' doors, asking if they could please have a bath.
Eva lived in one of the Colliery houses quite near to the camp. As Eva's husband was a miner, with a concessionary coal supply, they had ample coal to heat the hot water needed for the baths so she quite willingly obliged. In way of thanks, Eva was given some army blankets. Eva said she not only kept the blankets but also used those blankets right through the years until just recently when she bought herself a quilt.
A number of the men from the Ack Ack Camp used to go to the dances at the Miners Welfare Hall, (now Whickham Sales Rooms) on a Saturday evening and quite a few acquaintances were developed with the local girls. The hall was originally built after the First World War for Axwell Pit as an Institute, but as it was not used it was offered to Watergate Pit.
Betty Oloman can remember when doing her milk round on her cart, she would sometimes carry extra milk and the men from the camp would buy it from her. She also remembers being teased by the wolf whistles she received.
When the army vacated the camp many of the local families moved into the camp as squatters and used the wooden huts as homes. In those days it was very difficult to get houses. Many people had no option but to squat. They stayed in the huts until they were either rehoused, often in prefabs, by the council or they could afford to buy a property for themselves.