Wilbert Charles Garfoot

Known as "Wib" he was the 3rd son of Frederick and Mary, born at Melton Ross a couple of miles west of Kirmington. The family moved to Croxton in 1924 which is one mile north of Kirmington when his father took up employment with the Riggall family.

From a young age Wib kept ferrets to bolt rabbits into nets and he was also skilled in setting rabbit snares. He soon became very useful at shooting vermin with his shotgun as shown on one of the pictures, with his ferrets by his feet. He would have known that small area of North Lincolnshire like the back of his hand as had roamed its woods and hedgerows from a young age. 

Wilbert helped out in the Kirmington RAF NAFFI where 166 Squadron were based, along with his Mother and sister Evelyn. The family still have their end of war certificate thanking them for their voluntary work . He knew a good number of the airbase personnel and socialised with them at The Marrow Bone and Cleaver pub (The Chopper) in Kirmington village.

From leaving Kirmington School in 1930 until December 1947 Wib worked with farm horses for the Riggall family (Sergeant Christopher Riggall was the son of Wib's employer) in Croxton who were tenant farmers on the Brocklesby Estate . He worked his way up to the position of Farm Waggoner. In 1947 he had a change of career and became a Gamekeeper for Lord Yarborough in Pelhams Pillar Woods near Caistor, south of Kirmington. He was a gamekeeper for 17 years then became a school caretaker in Caistor. He was a Special Constable for 22 years and had been an active member of Caistor Parish Church and National Union of Allied and Agricultural Workers.

He married Florence Shearsmith in 1947. Florence served 5 years in the WAFF's 1941-46 and she lived until the age of 94.

His son, Colin, recalled; "The disclosure of our father's involvement as an Auxiliary Unit member was a shock to my siblings and I, but it was not entirely a surprise as "Wib" would have been well suited to the requirements that the role demanded. We are immensely proud of the commitment that he was prepared to make but a little sad that he did not share this with us whilst he was alive."