- Contributed by听
- Herts Libraries
- People in story:听
- Benjamin Ernest John Roberts
- Location of story:听
- Stevenage, Hertfordshire to Carlisle
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A3651905
- Contributed on:听
- 11 February 2005
The Day I Was Called Up for Army Service
In 1943 with World War II still raging it was obvious that as soon as I was 18 years of age I would be 鈥渃alled up鈥. In November I was 鈥渋nstructed鈥 to report to the Medical Centre in Hatfield Road, St Albans and where I passed A1.
My 18th birthday fell on the 3rd January 1944 and a few days later I was notified to report to Hadrians Camp, Carlisle on the 31st January.
Although I was looking somewhat forward to the 鈥渁dventure鈥 I felt a bit tearful and my parents saw me off from Euston Station in London. With my elder brother Harold, already serving in Burma my mother cried and dad tried hard to hide his feelings. I will always remember that sad parting.
On arrival at Carlisle, a Sergeant Major ordered me amongst many others, to army vehicles awaiting outside the station and so commenced four long years service in the UK and abroad.
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