Life and work on the home front

William worked on the home front during the Second World War

William Horstead was an electrical engineer before war broke out in 1939 and soon found himself working behind the scenes of the war effort.

He said: "I was told I had to register under ZA and close my electrical engineering business."

He went on to work on engineering projects ranging from radio transmissions to Spitfire engines.

Of Armistice Day he said: "It means a terrible amount... even at 94 I still go into deep thought."

As an electrical engineer William's skills were useful to the war effort and so when he was directed to close his commercial business he was soon employed elsewhere.

It was very interesting but very hard work - we had one day off a fortnight William Holstead

He found himself working with a team on upgrading the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines so they would operate on 16 rather than 14 cylinders. William said they described themselves as "the experimental division".

It was the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines which helped form the backbone of the RAF as they were used in the Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters which even today are famous thanks to their exploits during the war years.

From working on engines to working on radio broadcasts, William was later employed to work on the cabling systems used by the BBC at Daventree.

He said: "It was very interesting but very hard work - we had one day off a fortnight and were working below ground."

As well as his official work as an engineer William lived near the site of the first "doodlebug" bombing. He was drafted in to help clear up, a task he described as "gruesome... literally there were body parts all about".

He said every year at the time of Remembrance in November he still thinks heavily about those who have lost people because of war and on his own experiences: "I still go into deep thought with sad memories and happy memories... if it's not too cold I will be at the appropriate place at the top of Smith Street."