大象传媒

I had just begun to settle into life at our base in Kaduna when, early in 1943 "those in charge" decided to move me, not once, but three times.

Firstly I was transferred to the 1st W.A. Infantry Brigade Workshops and travelled up to Kano, on the southern edge of the Sahara where they were stationed. Kano was the first place that I needed to wear my UK battledress, first thing in the morning we needed its warmth. The temperature rose quickly and after breakfast at 9am we changed into short sleeved shirts and shorts. January is the time of year when the North-Easterly Harmatan wind blows down from the desert full of sand and dust. Visibility was often limited to about 30 yards.

Then after only a few weeks at Kano I was ordered to return to Base Workshops at Lagos. The 550 mile train journey was my first real experience of Nigerian Railways and they made a good impression. The bunk beds were comfortable and the food was good, they provided a cheese made from goats cheese which was the first cheese I had tasted in a long time.

While back at Base Workshops, Lagos, an order was received that all British officers and other ranks should be able to ride a motorcycle. I started riding slowly on grass, then my instructor took me around the back streets of Lagos, which was more challenging. Skill was needed to avoid all the potholes, goats, dogs and chickens; people got out of the way when they heard us coming, but goats are oblivious to traffic and the chickens only flew away at the very last moment! We never rode at any speed, it was too dangerous to ourselves as well as to others. Soon I was pronounced proficient and I was issued with an Army licence to ride a motor cycle. From that day to this I have never ridden a motorbike again.

My second spell at Base Workshops did not last long and I was posted to the 4th WA Infantry Brigade Workshops who were stationed at Kaduna, so it was on the train again and back up country.

The posting with the 4th was a more long lasting one and I was to get to know my fellow telecommunications mechanics, Vic and Stew, quite well by the time the war ended. We settled into a steady routine as the Army required and the sets we were dealing with were mainly welfare receiver units, we rarely saw a transmitter set.

On one occasion we were approached by a European civilian, who was desperate because his one and only radio was defunct. There were not many European civilians in Nigeria at that time and it struck me that they lived very lonely lives, living alone as most of them did. It was only the largest towns that had a European Club. People like District Commissioners, were in more remote places, for them listening to the 大象传媒's Overseas Service was really their only contact with the larger world. Our new acquaintance invited us to Sunday lunch and arranged to pick us up. We were given an excellent traditional ground nut stew followed by the usual iced drinks. We managed to repair his radio and everyone was most pleased and satisfied.

It was now May 1943 and there were no threats to peace south of the Sahara, the Allies had just about cleared the Germans and Italians out of North Africa and the "powers that be" were considering how best to employ the West African Frontier Force in the war.

In what seemed to be a very democratic gesture, all British ranks were required to submit an essay giving their opinion on this subject. I and some others thought this was more likely to be a subtle move to discover what our opinion was of the fighting qualities of our African soldiers. We discussed the matter between ourselves before committing pen to paper. The more we thought about it, there was only one answer - Burma.

From the little news we received, (the 14th Army was already known as the forgotten army) it was apparent that reinforcements were badly needed there. Much of the country was dense forest or jungle where everything had to be carried, both of which most African troops were used to. The climate was similar to that in the coastal and some central regions of West Africa. It certainly made more sense than trying to use them in Europe.

In all probability the "powers that be" had already reached this conclusion as we were soon informed that the six infantry brigades in British West Africa were to be formed into two Divisions: the 81st and 82nd West African Divisions. The 4th Infantry was to be part of the 82nd along with the 2nd Brigade from the Gold Coast and the 1st also from Nigeria.

I had lost touch with my former comrades in the 3rd Brigade as they had moved on before I returned to Kaduna and as part of the 81st Division the next thing I heard they were in Burma.

It was however not to Burma that I would be dispatched, but home on leave.
To be continued...

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