大象传媒

My name is Edward John Housman and I am now 80 years old. When I was 18, in 1943, I worked on a farm in Broomhill near Belbroughton, Worcestershire. The war was on in Europe and I volunteered to join the army, mainly so that I would see a bit of the world and, although I was certainly not work-shy, I wanted a change from my job on the farm.

I met up with a gang of like-minded souls in Stourbridge and we were taken to Norton Barracks, near Worcester. My level of fitness was classed as B2 (not up to scratch), so I was sent to Bradbury Lines in Hereford to train. When I left there I was classed as A1 and sent back to Norton Barracks. From there we were sent to Colchester, a huge garrison, and lodged in a pub, where our training consisted of route marches, firing live rounds, firing into the sea and night patrols. Bombs were being dropped all day long and we could see our planes (RAF) coming and going on their missions to fight the enemy. A lot of lads went from here to Arnhem and were killed.

We transferred to North Walsham in Norfolk for a few weeks and then on to Munsley in Norfolk, where we were on standby for active service. At the morning parade the chosen would be told to take 2 paces forward. We were told that we would be going any time now. Then one evening we were told to get ready and we were taken to Greenwich in London. We caught the boat and travelled down the Thames out to sea and to the ship that would take us to India.

鈥淭he Queen of Bermuda鈥� was an ocean going cruise ship that regularly sailed between New York and Bermuda, carrying the elite of American society and certain famous celebrities, such as Noel Coward. When the war broke out it was commissioned as a troop carrier. I remember well how beautiful and opulent it was and always wondered what happened to it. For my 80th birthday I received a painting of this beautiful ship and a video of old film footage of it leaving America and arriving in Bermuda in its hey-day. It used to cause great excitement in both ports, as you can imagine.

It took us 6 weeks to sail to India and 3 weeks to come back as we had to make detours to avoid the mines.

My duties on board ship were to guard the corridors leading to the dressing rooms of the entertainers in ENSA (Every Night Something Awful). One night I felt unwell and had pains in my abdomen. Yes, I had appendicitis! I was duly operated on by the ship鈥檚 surgeon. We had sailed through the Suez Canal and were now in the Red Sea. We docked in Bombay and I was taken to Kullarber hospital. The poor man in the next bed had been caught up in the riots in Bombay and was pushed onto the railway line where a train ran over both his arms. He lost both hands. Vera Lynn 鈥� 鈥淭he Forces Sweetheart鈥� visited us in hospital and sat on my bed. She was lovely and chatted to us for a while. I was then sent to Poona to convalesce and when I was well I was put on guard duty, guarding banks and other important establishments.

All this time I was in the Somerset Light Infantry and I then joined the First Gloucester Regiment who had lost men and were much depleted. They wanted volunteers to help with the 40 mules who were used to move equipment, food and other essentials from place to place. I went to Jhansi, Sorga and Burma where I trained to look after the mules. During this time I also worked in the Sergeant鈥檚 Mess serving drinks and food to the officers. The officers were very friendly and chatted to us and drank with us. Everyone helped each other; there was no falling out.
We were living right on the equator and had to stay in between the hours of 12 and 4 each day. If we were found outside we would be put on a charge!
I was very fortunate that I was not required to go to replace those on the front line fighting the Japanese. I saw the injured soldiers coming back, it is something I have tried to forget and I count my blessings.

We had been on the move so much that we did not know what was happening in the war. Communication was not as it is today: no mobile phones or emails. One day the officers came to tell us it was 鈥渁ll over鈥�.

We then had a choice: we could go home or stay with the regiment. I decided to go home. The Gloucesters went on to fight in Korea where a lot of young men were killed.

I sailed back home on the Strathnaver and I have a photograph of this on a postcard that I sent to my mother to tell her I was coming home. I was demobbed from Aldershot and received a reference from my commanding officer congratulating me on all my hard work.

Although life was hard for me I was given a chance to see a part of the world I would never have seen otherwise.

Mrs Colebatch who owned a farm near Great Witley sent for me when she heard I was home and offered me a job on the farm with accommodation.

I met my wife, Pamela at a dance at the Lenchford Inn in Shrawley and we have 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

I consider myself to be fortunate that I have had a life where many of my regiment who went to the front line did not.

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