- Contributed by听
- Isle_Of_Man
- Location of story:听
- Croydon
- Article ID:听
- A4830400
- Contributed on:听
- 06 August 2005
I got posted early 1940 to Croydon and instructed to join City of Birmingham 605 Squadron. I got to Croydon station late on in the eveing - there was a blackout and I didn't know where to go - I needed to get to the airport.
I found a police box and asked him what I should do " you're to go and catch a bus to Wallington - ask the conductor to put you off at Sandy Lane. Walk to Forresters Drive and knock on number 34 - they'll put you right.
I knocked on and an air force sargeant answered. He asked me where I'd come from - he gave me bacon, egg, toast, marmalade and a cup of cocoa. "You'll want a bed for the night" - walk up the lane, if you like the look of one, it's yours". Apparantley all the houses had been evacuated to house the air force. The bungalow was the mess, the garage was the cookhouse. I ended up staying about 4 months.
The next morning I saw the hurricane fighters were at the back of the garden.
Then I was sent back to Croydon, everyone had all gone! I was on my own again.
There was a little school up the road, it was an infant school and everything was miniture - the toilets, chairs, everything!
I got in touch with RAF Kenley and joined the American Eagle Squad and stayed there quite a while.
Then I was sent to Henley and did nearly 6 months. I was posted to many more places in my 6 years service - too many to tell!
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.