Will's War in Brighton by Nils Nisse Visser

I were crewing for Alice’s old man, you see, on The Salty Mew, the fizziest aerocraft on the south coast at the time. You’ll find a young hen full as good as your…. Said Nelly to John if you’ll pull up my smock

I’ve ‘eard Alice whistling the tunes aboard the Kestrel, proud as a peacock I were, to know I been such a good influence.īy the light of a candle I happened to spy Since she was a nipper, used to perch on me knee and I’d sing her a ditty or two, didn’t I? Not that dull patriotic rubbish, mind you, proper songs like ‘Ere’s to the Grog and Lily White Thighs. Damfino why, I am more quiet than a nun what took vows of silence, ‘onest Guv, you’ll find me jaws are locked tighter than the creamy thighs of a…… Yes, quite, so you can tell us something about Miss Kittyhawk? How long have you known her? Alice asked me to come, said I’d be better at it cause I never shut me sauce-box. No offense, but I was expecting one Miss Alice Kittyhawk… erm… Mister…?Ĭap’n Fitzsimmons Noakes, at your service. We were actually hoping to interview Miss Alice Kittyhawk about her adventures, but she had pressing obligations in London and sent Captain Noakes in her stead.Ĭaptain Noakes has a peculiar way of speaking which might sound a bit odd to modern ears, and we suspect that this particular interview is NSFW. Many of the events in this book are based on true stories told by a generation which grew up during a World War.Dear readers, tonight with me is Fitzsimmons Noakes, the modest captain of the airship ‘The Centennial Kestrel’, the fastest Channel-Runner in business I am told.

Written with the help of many Brightonians who contributed their wartime memories. Trying to make sense of it all in an increasingly bewildering world Will and Brenda forge an unlikely friendship as the war comes ever closer to their home town. As the summer of 1940 progresses the children discover more disadvantages of the war: Access to favourite playgrounds is restricted, chocolate becomes inedible, confectionary stores are steadily running out of sweets and the Luftwaffe and RAF are locked in an epic battle for control of the airspace above England. Brenda, one of Jamie's neighbours, is nine years old and has a different take on the war.and the boys for that matter because she is worried their idiocy might be contagious and infect her little brother Eddie. From his perspective it has brought about changes to his native seaside town of Brighton which are endlessly fascinating to explore: Spitfires, disrupted lessons, easy pennies, mutoscopic voyeurism, gun batteries on the seafront and the Luftwaffe freely distributing highly collectible shiny cannon shells when Messerschmitt 109s strafe Will and his best mate Jamie on the streets. Will Maskall is twelve years old and up till now has more or less been enjoying the war. This edition is no longer available for purchase

Will's War in Brighton by Nils Nisse Visser