Researching Rutland
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Book Review
Belton at War - Belton History Society Journal, Volume 4, 2010
Compiled and edited by Audrey and Philip Walker
Published by Belton History Society - 96pp £9.50 - Available from local bookshops
Belton at War is a well produced and very comprehensive account of the village’s involvement in war
–from the Civil War, through the Boer War and the two World Wars to the Korean War. It includes many
personal memories, not only of front line activities, but also of nursing, the Home Guard, the Women’s
Land Army, evacuees, and farming, and much more.
Of particular interest is the account of the bombing of Belton, thankfully a very rare incident in Rutland.
On Whit Monday, 25th May 1942, a lone Dornier 217, being chased by British fighters, decided to drop
four bombs on the centre of the village. Miraculously, no one was injured although there was some
damage to property. Further research discovered that one of the chasing Spitfires was piloted by
Flight Commander (later Air Vice-Marshal) Johnnie Johnson.
This book is a good read for anyone interested in this sort of thing, but I have to admit to being slightly
biased – the war-time stories of both my father and grandfather, and several other relatives who lived
in Belton are included.
Robert Ovens