Conker oil
IN HIS letter about memories of The Great War Mr Weeks comments on the collection of conkers. (Letters 5 January).
I too collected conkers in the Second World War — we were paid half-a-crown [12½p] a sack.
The conkers yielded an oil which was used in the manufacture of cordite for explosives, saving the import of oil on the Atlantic convoys.
In debt to Spike Milligan, I call this “my part in Hitler’s downfall”.
Brian Mercer, Barlows Lane, Andover
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