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This story was submitted to the People’s War Site by Doreen Oaks for Three Counties Action, on behalf of Arthur Newman, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

Eager to join up I gave an incorrect age by saying I was eighteen. I was accepted by the RAF and did basic training at Cardington, Bedfordshire. From there to Kirkham where I learned to be an armourer, and became a Leading Aircraftsman. Manston in Kent, which was in the thick of the Battle of Britain, was my next posting. This was a station where fighter squadrons from all over the south came to be re-built, re-fuelled and re-armed, to take off and fight again.

Planes were fitted with 20mm Hispanos and 303 Browning machine guns and when there were dog-fights expended shells came hurtling down, adding to the other dangers. The turn round of fighters were unbelievably hectic and we worked non-stop until the day’s action was over. Soon I was sent to Biggin Hill, which was equally busy, then after a while, in 1942, I was posted to Egypt.

Our convoy was enormous and suffered losses en route. It took twelve long, agonizing weeks to reach Africa. As we boarded ship in Scotland, we were given a ticket which determined our sleeping accommodation. The choice was the deck, mess-table or a hammock. My place was below the ship’s water line and the close explosions heard were thought to be torpedo hits but were actually depth charges exploding.

Fresh water was in short supply and the soap issued was able to lathe in salt water. The idea was good but resulted in us feeling sticky and unwashed. Personnel were packed like sardines and the threat of submarines made for an unpleasant voyage.

Our station was Al Bella and we worked in conjunction with Montgomery, some miles behind our lines. Hurricanes were carrying bombs at that stage so we were backing up the army’s progress. There was a lot of aerial activity, with enemy bombers trying to eliminate our airfield and our fighters trying not to allow them. The most distressing part was when the young pilots didn’t return. Some were from planes I’d worked on and couldn’t help feeling it as a personal loss. Casualties were heavy on both sides but mine was a job worth doing and, in spite of living in tents for over three years, we all had to get on with it. Through the Battle of Britain to the war in the desert it was never easy, but I am now a proud owner of the 1939-42 Battle of Britain Star and Africa Star.

When the war finished, I went to East Africa, ready for demob. Because I was a trained plumber and heating engineer my release came through within twenty-four hours and was posted back to Britain, as part of a plan called the ‘Rebuilding of Britain’. I registered with what was then the Labour Exchange in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, worked for builders who needed a plumber/heating engineer.

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