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My Story by Jeff Brereton ( Part 2 ) 32 Squadron UK, North Africa, Italy.

( Continued from part 1 )

1-11-41 Posted to 32 Squadron at Manston near Ramsgate in Kent 32 squadron was a
Regular Fighter Squadron also equipped with Hurricanes
The Aerodrome being close to the coast was constantly bombed and shot up and was the first landing place for aircraft damaged and returning from operations over the Continent. I arrived at a time when the invasion of Britain was still a threat and apart from keeping our aircraft in the skies we had to man the trenches at night on the high ground above Ramsgate.
Although I had never fired a gun in my life other than at the fairground I was given an American Tommy Gun similar to what the American Gangsters used and had to take it everywhere with me even to bed if I had time to rest. I was given the Tommy Gun because of my rank where lesser mortals were given rifles or Pikes ( i.e. large poles with pieces of metal on top)
So much for Dads Army and Churchill's words that we would fight the German Mighty
Military Machine on the Beaches in the Streets and in the Countryside. To compound the problems we had it was winter at Manston and we had four feet of snow.
I was certainly in the action again after the comparative quiet of Honily a constant reminder that the war was on to see daily, aircraft coming in all shot up.
One of our most busiest times and traumatic occasions was when three German
Battleships, Prinz Eugen ,Gneiseneau and Scharnhorst made their dash through the
English Channel from Brest to the Baltic Sea. All six Swordfish torpedo Bombers that left Manston to attack the ships were shot down and many of the escorting Spitfires were shot down or badly damaged and many Pilots seriously injured.

After a spell at Manston the Squadron moved to West Malling near Maidstone where we spent the Summer and Autumn on rest again. During this time we went to a dummy airstrip above Beachy Head Nr Brighton and to our dismay the strip had scattered all around it models of fighter aircraft all made out of wood intending to deceive the enemy. The Strip was hardly long enough for our aircraft to take off. We later discovered that we were there to cover the disastrous Commando Raid on Dieppe. West Malling was a relatively quiet Station to be on and the squadron engaged in experimental night flying operations. I remember the station very well for it was surrounded by cherry orchards and hop fields, the aerodrome also had squadrons of American Tomahawk and Mustang Aircraft.
.
Whilst I was at West Malling the Air Ministry was calling for volunteers to make up
drafts of personnel for posting overseas, the call was mainly for unmarried personnel so I volunteered. On my first occasion I was given fourteen days leave and then told to report to the Embarkation Centre at Stockport. I was placed on two successive drafts with fourteen days leave in between. Both drafts were intended to be prestigious show drafts one to Florida U.S.A. and the other to Canada. Due to a worsening situation in the Middle East both drafts were cancelled.
Whilst in town at Stockport I was given a St Christopher by two Nuns and told that it would keep me safe. I kept the St Christopher with me always and a number of times during my travels I had reason to reflect on the occasion.
I was sent home on leave for seven days and then told to report back to my Squadron at Maidstone. After a short spell at Maidstone I was again sent on fourteen
days leave and told again to report to Stockport. After two days at Stockport I was again sent home on leave to await further orders. The draft had been for the Middle
East but the urgency was for Army personnel so there was no room for the R.A.F. personnel. I was then sent home for three weeks before being called back to
Stockport. I was selected this time for a draft to the Far East, however once again the draft was cancelled and I was sent home again on leave for seven days and then told to report back to my Squadron at Maidstone.
On returning to Maidstone I found that my Squadron was being posted overseas and that I would be going with the Squadron. The Squadron was moved to Baggington Nr Coventry where we were all given fourteen days leave before embarkation. I could not believe my luck as I had hoped that if I was to go abroad it would be with my own Squadron. I had amassed a total of one hundred and five days leave where as the rest of the Squadron had to settle for fourteen days. From then on I was given the nickname Lucky.

27-11-42 Embarked on a Cargo Ship at Liverpool which had been converted to a troop carrying vessel and set sail at 1727 hrs., out of the Mersey to the tune of 鈥淭ake me Down to the Fairground鈥� played by a brass band. 鈥淲hat a send off to who knows where鈥�.

After several days at sea on which we understood to be a zig zag course to confuse
the enemy we eventually arrived at a point between Gibraltar and Tangiers, Gibraltar could not be seen because of the blackout Tangiers however was ablaze with lights as Morocco was a Neutral Country. Up to this point the journey was reasonably peaceful we occasionally saw a German Condor Sea Plane shadowing the Convoy and heard distant explosions which were considered to be depth charges going off or torpedo attacks on some unfortunate ship in the Convoy. Our main deprivations were the total silence and darkness aboard ship and the cramped and basic facilities aboard we considered were probably more like the Prison Ships that we had heard about. We had hammocks to sleep in which we had to secure on any convenient anchorage whilst the rats running about above and below us provided our only entertainment. Above deck was little better as everyone was leaning over the rail feeling sick. It was a case of finding ones sea legs or remain permanently leaning over the rail. I was very pleased with myself as I mastered the roll of the ship and suffered very little inconvenience in that situation.
We passed through the Mediterranean expecting at any moment to see swarms of Bombers heading our way and the ship eventually reached our destination, which we then knew was Algiers, without incident. It was at this moment that we found out that we were involved in the invasion of North Africa and that later on we heard that our ship had been part of a convoy of over eight hundred vessels from Britain,
Canada, America and many other Countries which had assembled out in the Atlantic
for the invasion. The convoy was the largest that had ever been assembled up to that time. North Africa was in the hands of Vichy France who was not on the Allies side so troops were having to fight their way on landing. Whilst our ship was anchored in the waters out side Algiers a warning came that a large force of enemy bombers was headed our way and the Captains of each ship were told to disperse the convoy out to sea and every ship for itself. Undercover of darkness our ship headed further down the coast without incident and finally landed at the small port of Philipville which was only a short distance behind the front line. We soon realised that as we could hear the sound of gunfire in the distance.

6-12-42 Arrived Algiers
7-12-42 Arrived Philipville 0730 hrs., after ten very uncomfortable days at sea so it was
some what of a relief to be on dry land once more.
As a matter of urgency we spent that day offloading the ship of stores so that it could make a hasty retreat out of the docks where it would be a sitting duck for
enemy bombers. We were found accommodation in a French Foreign Legion Barracks guarded by Senegalese Troops on a hill looking down on the Harbour. This was the first time I had seen a black man and these Senegalese were certainly black and very scary when meeting up with them in the dark, we had no idea either as to whether they had been part of the Vichy French Forces who were still fighting the Allies. Being so close to the front line and Phillipville being a supply port we had
nightly bombing raids. The bombs being far too close for comfort as the Barracks were on a hill immediately above the Docks and some of the bombs were dropped around the Barracks. As we could not get to Algiers we were employed off loading Cargo Ships as and when they could get into the Docks. We stayed a month in Philipville before arrangements could be made to get the Squadron into Algiers where we should have met up with our aircraft and which were still in Britain. We spent our first Christmas abroad at Philipville in the Foreign Legion Barracks and we dined on Emergency Rations of tinned bully beef, cheese, hard biscuits and oranges which we obtained off the Senegalese Soldiers. Whilst at Philipville the Commander of the Vichy French Forces Admiral Darlan was assassinated and the forces then came over onto the Allies side.

7-1-43 Left Philipville by train for Algiers. We soon realised that the train which was no more
than goods wagons was carrying German prisoners transported from the front line
and guarded by American Soldiers. This was the first time that we had encountered American Soldiers in North Africa and this was the beginning of a long association with the Americans as the Royal Air Force was there in support of and attached to the American First Army under the Command of General Eisenhower. The train was so old and primitive that it only travelled slowly and when negotiating inclines we all had to disembark and walk alongside the train including the prisoners.
10-1-43 We arrived at Algiers on Sunday a journey of 100 miles that had taken three days and proceeded to Maison Blanc Aerodrome. We were housed in wooden huts in the centre of the aerodrome and the squadron was carrying out sorties over the front line in support of the First Army. The aerodrome was being bombed nightly and when off duty we all rushed out into the vineyards to get as far way from the aerodrome as possible. There were many casualties and as moral was very low the Camp Commandant said he would Court Marshall anyone who deserted the aerodrome during the raids. One night I was on guard duty on the dispersal area when bombs started raining down on the aircraft and after a while I sought self preservation by finding a ditch and diving into it. When I returned to my post I met the Guard Commander who was looking for me fortunately he was a member of the squadron and very forgiving and I was Lucky to get away with a good telling off. As the raids got worse it was no surprise to see the Commandant in the race away from the aerodrome. It was decided that the Squadron was too vulnerable in its present location and could not afford any losses that would undermine the efficiency so we vacated the main compound and moved to a more secure part on the fringe of the aerodrome where we were able to provide camouflage for the aircraft. Accommodation was in a vineyard and we slept on top of the wine vats. Life became much more relaxed although we had some heavy heads from the vapours emanating from the vats.

22-5-43 Saturday. As the first army was beginning to make gains the Squadron moved forward and our Hurricanes were fitted with bombs and rockets and were carrying out low level bombing of enemy troops which became more hazardous for the Pilots especially a spot known as Messersmit alley. We first moved to Tingley aerodrome at Bone arriving on the 25th and then on 22-8-43 to La Sebala aerodrome at Tunis. As the Germans had then pulled out of North Africa or surrendered, the Squadron was engaged in convoy duty and reconnaissance and a period of rest
18-10-43 Squadron left La Sabala for Bizerta where we were amazed to find a huge graveyard
of German War Planes. We enjoyed ourselves investigating the merits of the different aircraft.
19-10-43 Tuesday we boarded an L.S.T.鈥� Land Surface Transport鈥� for our next excursion and after a most uncomfortable journey on the steel hull of the boat for four days on the
23-10-43 we docked at Taranto in Italy at 1830 hours.
After a couple of days in Taranto it was off again by road north to the West coast .
28-10-43 Thursday we arrived at Montecorvino just inland from the beaches at Salerno,
everywhere were indications of the fierce fighting that had taken place during the
landings which commenced on September 9th,the forests of walnut trees were littered with graves indicated in the traditional way with soldiers helmets on top of rifles that had been pushed into the ground.
Montecorvino was well remembered by us as we were greeted by heavy thunderstorms and our tents being washed away during the night. The squadron did not stay long at Montecorvino though we did have a chance to visit the Amalfi coast
and Pompeii , I have a vivid memory of the ruins and the beautiful cathedral which had escaped the fighting. I remember too the sightseeing tour which we had in the typical horse drawn carriage. I also had a pleasant surprise that whilst at Montecorvino I was visited by Jack Watts who was in the army near Naples and had managed to locate my squadron. It was Jacks family with whom I became great friends at Wallington.

23-11-43 Tuesday. 0n the move again back to Maison Blanc Algiers where the Squadron was required for convoy duty as the convoys were continuously bombed with the loss of many ships. On this occasion our sea journey was in luxury compared to previous
trips as we travelled no less on the Winchester Castle one of Cunards most famous
cruise liners and we had cabins.
1-12-43 Arrived Algiers after an eight day crossing. Our stay at Algiers was less dramatic than the first time and in
Feb. -44 We left Algiers again in the awful Landing craft and again after a ten day journey.
Mar-44 We landed at Naples and travelled eastward across the mountains to Foggia where the Squadron joined the Balkan Airforce a prelude to invading the Balkans. The squadron operated over Yugoslavia harassing the Germans. There were 11 aerodromes around Foggia mostly housing American forces and one with Wellington Bombers who were trying to dislodge the Germans at Monte Casino. It was the Wellington Bombers with 4,000 lb bombs that finally had the most success. The Wellingtons carrying out low level precision bombing being more successful than the American high level saturation bombing.
May -44 Allies finally broke through defences at Caserno and Rome fell on June 4th.

It was north of Foggia one day of relaxation that on the beaches was one of my
luckiest days. I with my friends were playing with a football in the sea when I was
suddenly swept away by strong currents and although two of my friends kept me afloat for sometime they finally had to leave me in order to save themselves. I remember counting 15 times that I submerged before being hauled out of
the water. All the time I remained in a semi- conscious state and it was not the past
that flashed before my eyes as I was supposed to believe, but what I was going to miss in the future. Neither was it the visions of my best pals that I was seeing but
other colleagues on the Squadron. I remained in this semi- conscious state until I
reached the sand and only then did I lose consciousness. I was told that the person who rescued me swam about 200 yards to reach me and that I appeared to have swallowed half of the sea. I was undoubtedly the lucky one because a number of other persons had lost their lives in exactly the same spot. The area was put out of bounds after my incident. I was kept in hospital for 7 days and told by the nurses that I was very lucky to have survived. On leaving hospital I went to a convalescent centre at Santa Maria in the toe of Italy before I was allowed to return to duty. Apart from that incident our sojourn in Italy was a very happy one and we found the Italian people very friendly although they had been our enemies only a short time previously.

21-9-44 Squadron left Foggia for Bari.
22-9-44 Left Bari for Brindisi where I embarked with eight other colleagues in a Motor Torpedo Boat for Greece.

( Continued part 3 )

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