大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Catherine Garvie, Learning Project Manager at 大象传媒 Scotland on behalf of Jack Rickett from Glasgow and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was called up and went into the army on the 19th of November 1942 at aged 18 years and 6 months. I went to Fort George on the Moray Firth along the coast from Inverness; also the home of the famous Seaforth Highlanders Regiment. It was a bleak place to be in the month of November and in winter, particularly when running along the beach in a vest and shorts as part of the training schedule at that time early in the cold mornings. Toward the end of the six weeks everyone had to take aptitude tests and selections were made to where each man would go, I was sent to the Royal Signals at Catterick Training Camp inYorkshire.

After the training at Catterick the next move was to the town of Thirsk again in Yorkshire. As part of an advance party a group of us were put together to go to the Thirsk Race Course where we were to make preparations for those who followed to make up the new 12th Air Formation Signals Unit. Some of us were billeted in the stables and others in the Tote house. Eventually as more men arrived Nissen Huts on Thirsk Common were used to accommodate everyone. Then the hard training began. The new unit was moulded into shape for the future.

From Thirsk we moved to Whetstone outside London and did all sorts of fieldwork around Guildford, Windsor, Slough and Staines. On January 24th I was transferred from a construction multi airline section (telephone wires up on poles) to 137 Line Section where I was to remain until the end of the European conflict. Whetstone was a good place, handy for visits to London at weekends and time off. Moving to the 137 Section was also good for me as I had a close buddy there who was just my own age. He was called Wally and we were known as the 鈥榯errible twins鈥�! Our birthdays were on the 8th and 9th of May and we were always sent off together to do whatever job had to be done.

On April 21st 1944 we moved to Uxbridge a large RAF barracks, sheer luxury compared with what we had been living in. Long dormitories and centrally heated beds with sheets. It was heaven!! From there we serviced and laid lines of communication for the RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force Command. When we were there we were all split up into small detachments, three signalmen, one driver and a corporal; he was a great guy. We had a dodge 3 tonne wagon called Paree. Our hours were long and hard and we came back to the barracks for dinner at midnight as the cookhouse was open 24 hours per day to accommodate all the work shifts of the people there. It was a real V.I.P. barrack!

On Saturday 15 July 1944 our officer tried to get passes so that many of us could get 72 hours leave. This was alright for those within a reasonable distance but going to Glasgow was out of the question, as was the situation for the other Jock鈥檚, Taffy鈥檚 and others.

On Sunday the 16th of July the unit sections packed up all our stores on to the wagons and got ready to move at a moments notice. On Tuesday 18th July at 07.30 we left Uxbridge for the concentration area which was the first step for going overseas. On Friday 21st July 1944 we left the transit area for the shores of England to embark for the continent and to take part in that theatre of war. It was 01.30 when the first wagon went on board. There were six invasion barges to take us all over the Channel; the RAF personnel and equipment plus all our men and the equipment that we had.

It was around 06.00 when we all moved to go on board; that was fun having to scramble up scaling nets with all our packs and gear on to get onto the vessel. At 20.00 the convoy pulled away from the quays. I threw a penny overboard for luck. The lads said I had a string attached to it and it broke 鈥� a big joke to lighten the moment; that鈥檚 what one gets for being Scots! I was detailed for fire duty on board for two hours at a time. Some of the boys were really sick during the crossing. Just after 12.00 we sighted land and at 02.00 we hit the sand banks of the French coast. After the tide went out we all started to disembark up the beaches. We had landed at Port En Bessin and headed for the transit area which was at Aramanches. We spent the night there and experienced the fireworks from the naval ships at sea sending shells over our head to Caen 20 miles away. The firework display was some sight and somewhat scary. The shells sounded like express trains passing by above us.

On Sunday 22nd July we left Aramanches and went to Bayeux and then on to La Tronquay where we had an easy time for the first few days. After that the 2nd T.A.F. moved in and that鈥檚 when all the work started in earnest between HQ and advanced aerodromes. From there we moved forward onto Amiens passing through Rouen, Cambri, Valencies, Mons and then to Chambois which was part of the Faliase Gap. This was where the German Military Machine was massacred. The carnage was horrific and the smell of death seeped into your uniform; an additional stench came from the dead horses and cows etc. We were glad to move on from there.

On Sunday 10th September 1944 at 16.00 we arrived in Brussels which had only been liberated seven days earlier. Everyone was happy and very friendly and on both sides of the road people were waving to us as we passed. At about 12.00 we moved into our new surroundings which were previously occupied by the German SS Division which was in a terrible mess as it had been deserted in an extreme hurry. However, it was a comfortable place with spring beds and mattresses.

Shortly after we got to work in the Residence Palace in Brussels which had been taken over for the Shaef and TAF HQ. The building had been blown up the Germans and it was our job to rebuild it and replace all the phones. There were over 900 rooms in the Palace. We worked 24 hours a day from 08.00 to 20.00 the next with 24 hours off to recover from lost sleep. Within the first week we had a good service going and our night work was stopped as we became ahead of the schedule. We soon started work at Air Fields Brussels B58 Aerodrome. We got a job to run a line from Armentiers and Warneton. We spent two nights in Warneton which is just over the border in Belgium from France. Being the first troops to come to the towns the people gave us a great time at night after work. After the great time we had in Brussels; the completion of our good work projects, and rest and recreation it was time to move on.

On Monday 8th January we moved out from Brussels to head for Eindhoven in Holland to take over a care and maintenance job. Gee it was cold with snow a foot deep. Our wee detachment arrived at 15.30 feeling cold and miserable. Our new billet was an old school classroom with a Valor stove. That night we were free of duty as the other group lost the toss for standby. Between our two detachments we were kept busy looking after the 60 mile trunk route each of us having 30 miles to look after. It would take too long to describe each day鈥檚 work schedule and it was tough that winter. It was really cold with very deep snow in places. The news was really good on all fronts and the Russians were 87 milers from Berlin; then we heard it was 68 miles. There was fierce fighting all the way.

On Tuesday 6 February on a day off we went to the Malcolm Club (a club for the Air Force) which we were allowed to use and saw a play called 鈥淵ellow Sands鈥� with Cedric Hardwicke. It was very good. On our day off we made three collars for lads using cloth from the tails of their shirts; all hand sewn. One guy even used his collar to get married 鈥� army shirts then did not have collars.

After finishing all our work in Eindhoven, we moved back again to Brussels on the 11th of March. Something was afoot? I got some mail and learned that my sister was called up to join the Wrens. I wrote my 44th letter home since coming overseas.

Sunday 13th March saw us on the move again this time into Germany. It was going to be a long journey. We crossed the border at 15.45 and the first thing we saw was a burning building and another with a big swastika on the side of it and Heil Hitler in big letters. We passed through many devastated town. Our destination was a town called Suchteln where we arrived and settled in and once again got busy setting up the new T.A.F HQ. Billets were comfortable and it was a nice unharmed little place to be based.

There was still no sign of getting home on leave; we thought we might get home in May. Our unit was highly praised for all the work that had been done to establish the new HQ; to have lines straight through to Brussels and onto London. Many awards and promotions went to those in the know.

During the rest of April we worked repairing and replacing German telephone lines for our use with the help of the German telephone workers. My mate and I had a squad of 20 whom we picked up each day to take to work.

On Saturday 5th May I was still busy jointing cables with the help of my mate. On that day at 08.00 all German armies in North West Germany, Denmark and Heligoland immediately surrendered. Only Norway was left and then the war would be over.

On Tuesday 8th May, VE Day which was also my sister鈥檚 birthday, we heard Mr Churchill speak in the afternoon at 15.00 and at 21.00 King George VI gave his victory speech to the world. After that we went to 2 Company lines which was a German school to have a bit of a celebration and a sing along for an hour or so. That was all for that day. Bed was the best thing ever; it was the first day off for months.

Wednesday 9th May was my birthday and we got the day off and a long earned lie in bed along with a late breakfast. The Colonel gave a little speech at 10.00 telling us how were we had all done in our share in the victory and that he was ever so proud of our achievements. He also said from his heart that we had been the best unit he had ever been with and was honoured to be in command of it.

On the 18th of May I was on my way home and would be posted elsewhere. I had a good leave and then reported back to be sent to Malta Command Signals where I was doing similar work and eventually transferred to the clothing store and made up to Lance Corporal. I spent 2 years and 6 months in Malta and got demobbed in August 1947 to return to Civvie Street. I had a good and enjoyable time in Malta with lots of lovely sunshine.

So ends my wartime adventures. I never thought I would be scribbling out all this memorable copy鈥n case you are wondering about my age; I am 81 years and 6 months!

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