大象传媒

Within three weeks of my being posted to RAF Bicester, I accidentally met my cousin Jack who was also stationed at Bicester. When he realised that I hadn't been home since November, he offered to take me, but said that I would have to apply for a 24 hour pass for Sunday and an early chit for Saturday. This I did by going to see the Warrant Officer in his office, and not knowing what a chit was, I felt a bit awkward. He just raised his eyebrows and said 'A likely story I'm sure!' when I said I needed a pass to go with my cousin Jack. When I said that our mothers were sisters, he looked at me very quizzically and then said, 'Very well, come to me on Saturday morning.' I was at the camp gates at 11.50 and so was Jack and his friend. Within minutes the camp postal van drove up and we all got in the back. This took us near Oxford where we walked up the road leading to S.Wales. I was on my way home - the first time for almost three months! We finally arrived at Newport (after changing lifts at Gloucester) where I got a bus up the Western Valley and home. Jack told me to get to Newport Station early on Sunday to catch the train back to Camp.

My parents, my sister and her husband were surprised to see me and on the Sunday my mother walked with me to catch a bus to Newport, as the trains didn't run on Sundays. Whilst waiting at the bus stop, it started to snow! When I arrived at the station, I found Jack had got my ticket and gave it to me. I was very pleased at his foresight. The train was late and when it did finally arrive Jack pushed me into the nearest carriage and we were lucky to get seats. The whole train was packed and owing to the snow storm, was running late and it was very very late when we finally reached Bicester.

I was billeted in a small village called Stratton Audley in the Rectory and had only been there in the RAF lorries which used to take and fetch us to camp every day. These were very large lorries and very high, so it was a difficult job to get up into them especially in the mornings when most of us were only half awake! At this time of year it was dark in the mornings and dark early evening so
none of us saw where we were going. I had no idea how to get to Stratton Audley from Bicester town but, fortunately, Jack did. So we trudged through the snow and finally came to the church and rectory. I could see the light was on in the hall and felt very relieved as I knew it was very nearly 11.59pm Jack waited until I was at the door and I called to him to thank him for bringing me safely back. When I went to knock on the door, the light went out. I knocked and knocked but - but no one came. Then, I finally managed to locate an old fashioned door bell, so I pulled and pulled that, but still no one came. By now, I was getting very cold, worried and very frightened. After some time, the light came on and I heard footsteps coming down the stairs and into the hall. A very strict voice came with the opening of the door, 'You are late and I'm putting you on a charge - attend the Officers Office in the morning at 9 o'clock'. The way she said it I was sure I was going to be shot!! Next morning, after find out where the office was located, I was there on the dot. The same CPL was there, too, and told me to march in, salute and stand still. As I was shivering in my shoes, this was difficult to remember and do, but I must have just about done it all. The Officer was softly spoken and asked my story of the previous night and my version of the snow journey. When she dismissed me she told me to report there every morning for a week with clean buttons, cap badge and shoes. The following morning I went along again. This time the CPL was in attendance, so I knocked on the door and was told to 'come in'. The same procedure occured, but the Officer said, 'Good morning, I can see your buttons, badge and shoes are well shined. You needn't come again this week, and I hope not to see you here again - dismiss! I later learned that she was from Penarth and knew the perils of my journey at this time of the year. The next thing I learned was the fact that Jack, inadvertantly, taught me to hitch-hike. From then on I was nicknamed the 'hitch hiker queen of Bicester!'

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