"Sir Billy in the Wars" - Billy Butlin and his service in WW1 and involvement in WW2 – a talk by Rosemary Chaloner.
Billy Butlin, the founder of the Butlin's holiday camp empire, served in the military during World War I and contributed to the war effort in other ways:
Military service - Butlin served as a bugler and drummer boy, and was eventually sent to the front. He was injured during training when a detonator exploded in his face, but was released from the hospital after a week.
Holiday camp use - The War Office requisitioned Butlin's holiday camps for use as training camps. Butlin agreed to build more sites in exchange for ownership after the war.
Black Out Amusement Park - Butlin transformed bombed-out streets in Hull into an amusement park that was camouflaged to avoid detection by German bombers. The park ran for 10 days and featured rides, a shooting gallery, and other attractions.
MBE - Butlin received an MBE for his wartime service in 1944.
Sorry, but there will not be a Zoom option for this talk.