Haxey Hood
Sir: Roy Kerridge (`Baffling the Boggins', 14 January) and his local informants are in error when he declares that the 'Hoodnapping' of 1984 was the first.
In 1942, 'D' Battery of 58th Heavy Regiment, RA (into which I was newly commissioned) was stationed at Haxey, with one troop detached at Owston Ferry, a couple of miles away. Some of our Heavy Gunners from Owston joined in the Sway, and a certain bruiser of a bombardier was carried off, injured, to a waiting 15 cwt truck. A few minutes later, it became known that the Hood was now at the pub in Owston, having been stuffed up the `injured' bombardier's trouser leg in the sweaty depths of the maelstrom. Meanwhile the Sway took its juggernaut path over the local carrot crops. I imagine it was a larger event than usual, as dozens of our large men had joined in.
There was a considerable rumpus over the affair, but as no military laws had been transgressed the Owston Troop enjoyed their questionable triumph.
How short local memories are!
K. H. Grose
Broxmouth Gardens, Dunbar
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