大象传媒

Quo Fata Vocant
(Regimental Motto of The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)

鈥淭his story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from Cleveland on behalf of Robert Hogg, and has been added to this site with his permission. Robert fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.鈥�

May 1944. It came as quiet a shock and a great disappointment, but this was war and we obeyed without question.

鈥淵our movement orders, CQMS. You are posted on the 5th. Battalion The Welsh Regiment.鈥�

I was at a holding unit of 4th. Bn. The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers on return from the Middle East, were I had been for over seven years. I had served nearly ten and half years in the 1st and 2nd Battalions of my County Regiment, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.

The 1st Bn. in North Africa was a motorised machine gun unit in which I had been a Company Sergeant Major. When I embarked for home, I was two days short of substantive rank and reverted to my substantive rank of CQMS. (For the second time 鈥� the first time on entering hospital)

I found my new unit encamped in a wood, near Andover in Hampshire, I believe. When I presented my papers to the Orderly Room Sergeant, he said 鈥淐QMS, we have no vacancies for a CQMS鈥�. I suggested that maybe there was an unsubstantive one whom I replace. There were two the Adjutant鈥檚 brother-in law, and the other was his cousin. He was right and I just tagged along as a spare file. We were fenced in the camp and could not out unless on duty. One day I was ordered to take a Private and collect a deserter from the civilian Police at Sittingbourne in Kent. I was glad to get out of the camp for a break. Perhaps they had hoped to move out before I returned, and thereby solve the problem of what to do with me.

I reported to the police only to be told that there was no return train until the next day. The Private and I were billeted with the Air Raid Wardens for the night. Early next morning one of them bought us a cup of tea and said鈥漜an you hear them, hundreds of planes flying over. I think it had started.鈥� They were our planes, and indeed it had started. 鈥淒 Day鈥� 6th June 1944.

The unit was still there when we returned, but orders to embark on 鈥淒鈥�+4 at Southampton.

We left the ship via scrambling nets and landing crafts, then waded ashore and foot-slogging up through Bayeux towards Caen.

The Battalion took part in the battle for Caen and the fighting was very fierce. The roads up to the front were heavily shelled and someone came up with the bright idea of having me to stay at Battalion H.Q. for all the food would be sent for me to distribute, while the other CQMS remained at 鈥淏鈥� echelon. All went well for a few days until the Commanding Officer was killed and replaced by Lt. Col. Gibson (nicknamed Hoot, naturally.) Between shelling and mortaring, he called upon us at the H.Q. When he dropped into my slit trench, he noticed I wore a Palestine Medal Ribbon, as he did. For awhile we talked of the Middle East and of Officers I my former unit whom he knew. When I told him my situation, he told me to be ready to return to 鈥淏鈥� echelon that night. However, I still did not get a company.

At that time, Monty had given orders that front line troops would be withdrawn for forty eight hours rest, bathing, change of underwear and some substantial meals. I was made CQMS for the Brigade Rest Camp.

It was there that I learnt that 1st Bn. The East Lancashire Regiment was in the same brigade and I applied for a transfer to it and was accepted.

As soon as I joined the East Lancs., I was appointed to a company. The Company Commander was a Major Griffin. He asked about my previous service and when I told him I had been in the RNF he was delighted. He asked me if I knew Major Gatehouse. I told him I had served under him in Egypt and knew Daddy Gatehouse well. He asked if I had known his daughter (he gave her name but I could not recall), and I said I had, as she was in Cairo too. He then 鈥渟he is now my wife. I will tell her of you when I write to her. Welcome to 鈥淎 Company鈥� I felt at last I had come in out of the cold.

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