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Coniston Avenue, Sheldon In Ww2

ChrisM

Super Moderator
Staff member
We are standing on the driveway of 45 Coniston Avenue, Sheldon. It is almost certainly a day in 1944.

Waving to us, across a bit of pavement and 73 years, is an American G.I., sitting in the sidecar of a Home Guard despatch rider. The Despatch Rider himself is Rex G. Owen and it is probably Mrs. Owen who is holding the camera. The Owen family were very generous in throwing open their doors to overseas servicemen in the area, especially Americans, Canadians and Belgians. They would come in ones or twos, perhaps for 48 hours or so, to enjoy the comforts of home.

Chris
(Source: The Owen family archive via the staffshomeguard website, Warks/Birmingham/Sheldon section)

BirminghamDRs5web1000.jpg
 
This is the view which the G.I. would have had, if the photo had been taken at the same time (which it obviously wasn't).

Rex G's wife Flo and their son Rex. 45 Coniston Avenue. How COLD the house looks........

(Source: The Owen family archive via the staffshomeguard website, Warks/Birmingham/Sheldon section)

BirminghamDRs10adjw1000.jpg
 
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