Wind over Langsett
So much is known by the wind
that scours the moors, exposes stones,
buried bones, grey heather roots
in blackened peat, half-hidden
high explosive quietly rusting;
so much is worked on – traces
of old tank tracks erased,
new growth of chancing trees
stunted, sparse;
so much time
hurling its might against
the stone-worked dam,
tumbled walls of North America Farm
shattered by practice fire;
so much of stripped surfaces,
skinned back to bare frames –
barns, workers’ huts,
plane carcases’ shredded fuselage
left to rot, sink in the acid soil;
so much recalled
of nights of bombers’ moons,
burning skies’ orange glow –
Sheffield terraces, factories,
foundries;
so much weight is carried –
drone of planes
letting loose their loads,
their banking turns over Hartcliffe
to make one last drop.
Sue Riley
Very interesting Insights into the secret weapon(S) on Langsett Moors, part of the ambitious ‘STARFISH project’, I’ve gathered, a national series of swiftly erected Defence/Decoys in remote uninhabited areas of Britain – but near to major towns, cities known by the enemy to contain steel and other manufacturing outputs so vital to ‘full-on’ warfare. Does anybody have any data, information about the structures in MIDHOPE/LANGSETT during WW2 and how they were deployed, how effective they were? If so I’d love to hear from you. I’m a Stocksbridger, conceived, I’m told on VE Day. I know members of our ‘Laycock’ family were involved, joining with soldiers trained in the Royal Artillery at Lytham St Anne’s. Until November 1942, a family friend, Percy Ling, served in the 12th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, part of the time defending the Samuel Fox Steelworks in Stocksbridge near Sheffield against enemy air attacks. My family name Laycock, uncles were FRED and WILLIS Laycock, employed at Sammy Foxes and both also in the Home Guard – yes Dad’s Army!!!!- and involved from time to time in what was going on up there on the MIDHOPE -LANGSETT moors.
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