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In the autumn of 1939 Cheltenham College was evacuated to Shrewsbury but after two terms was allowed to go back home where life returned as far as possible to normal.

Increasingly large areas of the College playing fields were dug up to grow vegetables and for some boys ‘digging for victory’ replaced organised games.

As clothes rationing made school uniform difficult to obtain, the boys were given boiler suits. These, according to Robert Beausire, a pupil from 1938 to 1942, could be worn in two different styles: either “one could draw their waist belts together In Front thus converting oneself into the category promptly dubbed ‘wasp-waist’, or one could loosely let the belt be tied Behind oneself — and be dubbed a ‘sack-cloth’.�

Beausire kept a diary during his time in College. These extracts, from the summer of 1940, record the disruption caused by air raids over Cheltenham.

“25 June
I went to sleep then woken up by shuffling and air-raid syren (sic). Told to go and wake Duck [Matron] … Went down to passage. Lasted over an hour. All well that ends well.

26 June
Heard 5 raiders were brought down. They were escorted by Fighters. They flew over Leckhampton last night. Another raid expected tonight. Ready for it! Rug: Torch: Trousers: Cushion: Slippers.

9 July
Last night I heard about 5 bombs being dropped, can’t remember hearing plane.

12 July
Filled bags with earth all afternoon as impot for not turning up for house photo.

25 July
Raiders at lunch. Going up to Coll after lunch heard anti-aircraft guns: 3 raiders. 1 brought down? Sent back to houses. 10 mins no more.�

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