Hoxne Heritage Group World War Two Exhibitions September 2019/2022

Originally planned as a three part exhibition celebrating life in the village and surrounding areas during the years 1939/45 and remembering those who served; this project was eventually refined into two events covering the years 1939-41 and 1942-45.

The first exhibition celebrating the early war years was held in the Village Hall on September 8th 2019 and the second exhibition, much delayed by COVID 19 restrictions was eventually held on September 11th 2022.

The centrepiece of the first exhibition was the recently discovered wartime diary of Major Harry Palgrave Raven who was responsible for the establishment of the Hoxne branch of the Local Defence Volunteers, later to become the Home Guard. The diary records, in minute detail, the names of the men who served and the dates on which equipment, including rifles and ammunition were issued. It also describes how our church of St Peter and St Paul was used as a lookout position for parachutists.

Both exhibitions featured displays, artefacts, exhibits and posters depicting many of the events of the period and how these impacted on the local communities. Much of the archive material featured biographies of those who served in the armed forces and local defence organisations.

On both occasions visitors were able to enjoy examples of wartime food and refreshments made from recipes of the period while listening to wartime music played on period equipment.

Both events were extremely well attended, in excess of 200 visitors came to the first exhibition and slightly less to the second although this period coincided with the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second.

The following section of our website contains much of the material from the exhibition.

The details of all the men recorded on the Hoxne War Memorial, including their connection to Hoxne together with, so far as is possible, a record of their military service has been recorded together with a Roll of Honour and details of those others that played their part in the war. Click on their names on the War Memorial picture above or the list below.