大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by Sarah Bateson of the 大象传媒 on behalf of John Tyrrell and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions"

I was called up when the war started. I was in the TA so call up was automatic. All my fellow TA members were playing for West Ham at the time. They were all called up too.

I was stationed in Cromer as a lorry driver, driving supplies - ammunition, food, petrol - all round Norfolk and the east coast. I used to supply the sites that had the guns and the searchlights on.

The only time I felt danger was when I came into London to collect the supplies and went through the tunnels - Rotherhithe and Blackwell. When bombing was taking place I didn't want to be in a tunnel that was hit, and be there with water flooding in.

While, I was away the house I lived in in Victoria Docks, Canning Town was bombed. My Dad was working in the docks at the time on Maintenance.

My mum had just had a new baby, so was evacuated. My brother was in the RAF, and was sent abroad almost immediately.

My regiment were all on parade one day when they called out two names - mine and somebody else's - we were told to step forward. Everyone else was told they were going abroad. And us two were told we were staying. I was heartbroken. All my mates were going abroad. And I was having to stay.

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