Read all about it! Tamworth Herald archive 1917 to 1968 goes to auction

Read all about it! Tamworth Herald archive 1917 to 1968 goes to auction

A RARE archive of the Tamworth Herald newspaper documenting life in the town from the end of the First World War all the way to the late 1960s is coming up for auction.

The bound editions dating from 1917 to 1968 include every year of World War Two from 1939 to 1945.

They go under the hammer as Lots 1-51 with Richard Winterton Auctioneers at The Tamworth Auction Rooms, Church Street, on Thursday, March 24, starting 10am.

“It is an absolutely jaw-dropping insight into the day-to-day lives of people in Tamworth during one of the most fundamental periods of change in history,” said Robert French, ephemera specialist at Richard Winterton Auctioneers.

“From the way adverts are pitched to the details included in the editorial and the way the editions were put together, these newspapers are a wonderful resource for local historians and we expect a huge amount of interest.

“Every year from 1917 to 1968 with the exception of 1951 are included.”

Tamworth Herald, September 9 1939 – the first edition published after Britain entered the Second World War. An article advises Tammies on three ways to shelter during an air raid – a trench in the garden, a shelter in the home or a shelter outside.

Following the outbreak of WW2, the 1939 editions cover the first children evacuees arriving in Tamworth from West Bromwich plus news of theatre and cinema closures, the setting up of the Food Control Committee and publication of the Retail Coal Price Order List.

By 1940 the Herald is running articles on ARP items, food rationing, issuing of gas masks, blackouts – and naming offenders not abiding the blackout.

1941 news includes petty racketeering and theft with offenders named, as well as the first reports of POWs and individuals killed or missing in action and in 1942 there is a report of a Fazeley man in action at Dieppe plus patriotic propaganda from Tamworth Gaslight and Coke Company and Tamworth District Electric Supply Company.

The Tamworth Herald from January 1917.

“The 1943 editions include a 1942 retrospective with a roll of honour of all the local men killed in that year plus reports of military bravery awards and promotions,” added Mr French.

“Articles in 1944 include a piece about an Alvecote seaman aboard HMS Belfast at the sinking of the Scharnhorst Battleship, two Amington brothers killed in action and Tamworth brothers meeting in India having being apart for 20 years.

“1945 articles include prisoners of war, men killed in action and, of course, VE Day.

“All the way throughout the war, local issues continued to make up the majority of the editorial.”

The total newspaper archive is expected to fetch between £2,000 and £3,000.

The auction also includes complete runs of Wisden. This edition is from 1899.

The March 24 sale also features more than 100 lots of cricket books including complete runs of Wisden, a variety of county year books and ephemera from every cricket county.

Other lots include autograph albums and signed photos of some of the 20^th century’s biggest stars including Frank Sinatra and Clark Gable plus the British Empire Medal archive and war trophies of Grenville Grayer, who took part in the arrest and interrogation of Heinrich Himmler.

The catalogue for the auction is online now via our Auction Dates page.

For auction information, viewing and valuation enquiries, call 01827 217746 or email tamworth@richardwinterton.co.uk.

 

More than 100 lots of cricket books, county year books and ephemera from every cricket county feature in the sale.