大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Karen Sussex from Westree Learning Centre and has been added to the website on behalf of Eric Whayman with his permission and they fully understand the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

CONTINUED FROM PART 1 at bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/a4401262

Pals together
I had two friends, Roy Battishall and Ken Squirrels. We spent many hours collecting shrapnel; fins from burnt out incendiary bombs, and sometimes unexploded ones. We also thought it was great fun, climbing down into deep bomb craters.
One Saturday morning whilst our playing we saw 6 planes in formation, flying quite high, thinking it was ours, because the sirens hadn鈥檛 sounded.
Suddenly the Akk-akk guns positioned in the local Crownhill Barracks opened fire; we ran for cover very quickly but watched from the door of the air raid shelter; shells bursting all around the planes.

A lonely Paperboy
Many civilian houses/ bungalows were commandeered by the armed forces. In the street where I delivered papers regularly, a bungalow was a Sergeants Mess and I had good relationship with the cook. Halfway through my paper rounds in the evening I would deliver the paper and I would be given my tea of Welsh rarebit (Cheese on toast), or beans on toast, or toasted bread and jam (no butter) or sometimes sausage and mash. (I was one of the best fed paperboys in Plymouth).
On one occasion I was given secretly by the duty sergeant a Tin of Jam and a Pound of Sausages. At 12 years old and whilst Mum was on duty at the local fire station I decided I would surprise Mum before she came home at 9.p.m. and make some Jam Tarts and Sausage Rolls. Unfortunately because there was no lard and I used margarine instead the Pastry was very hard. But however because of the shortages of food the family soon consumed them with very little complaint

Another Move
We moved house yet again to about 2 miles further North of Plymouth.
Where there was an Air Raid shelter already built in the back garden and plenty of use was made of it over the next few months. I was extremely upset in having to move away from my two play mates and school friends Ken and Roy, not aware that it was the last time I would be in contact with them, what happened to them I鈥檒l never know.
I remember that we had moved nearer to Seaton Army Barracks where there was a high concentration of akk-akk guns and during an air raid the continuous firing of these guns was frightening.
During a lull in the bombing, we emerged from the shelter and thankful for some fresh air as, shelters could be quite and stuffy.
Looking up to the night sky towards Plymouth, coming towards us was a moving object, as it came closer we realised it was a blazing aircraft It was very low and descending very quickly and not more than 100ft above the house. The aircraft crashed into some woods a few miles away.
News came through the next morning that the plane was a German Junkers 88 bomber, with a crew of 6 where only one crewman survived, who was seventeen years old, just 5 years older than me.

Moved house again to more danger
The army officials had decided that we should have to be moved to house further
North of Plymouth because of the expected increase intensity of the raids.
Once again packing a few necessary belongs we were taken by Army Transport to a chalet bungalow site, very close to Roborough Airdrome, which was occupied by the Royal Air force. After a few nights of relative calm the sirens sounded .With no Air Raid Shelter to go for safety, we stayed in the chalet. Very soon we could hear enemy aircraft overhead and akk-akk guns firing and the noise was becoming more intense.
Mum told us children to keep quite and we listened, we could hear low noises hitting the roof of the chalet, Mum decided to go outside and look and to her horror saw incendiary bombs falling all around us on the roofs of adjacent Chalets, in the fields and the aerodrome.
Fortunately no bombs fell on our chalet but the German aircraft were after the nearby RAF Base.
There was no way out, of getting away from the intensity of the blitz, and Mum was desperate to make sure we were always safe, and she made a heart breaking decision that we should be evacuated and as a result my brother Micheal and sister Cynthia were evacuated to Barnstable in Nr Devon. I stayed, yet another separation in family life, just two of us Mum and I, Army pay was insufficient to keep the family going and as Mum had a qualification of being a good cook she obtained a Job as a cook for the NFS (National Fire Service) at Camels Head a district close to Devonport Dockyard. As a consequence we had to move once again to Second Avenue Nr St Beudoux.
Air raids were not finished and in particular Devonport dockyard got the worst of the bombing. Unfortunately time was not on my side, the raids became so frequent and horrific, and Mum decided it was time for me to be evacuated. This move broke my mother鈥檚 heart as by now all the family had been split up.

We were a close family no more
My mother supposing thought it would be appropriate to send me to a boarding school and in July 1943 I was sent to the Gordon Boys Home, West End, Nr Woking, and Surrey. I didn鈥檛 have much say in the matter.
I boarded the train at North Road Stn. Plymouth waving goodbye to my mother both of us very stressed and tearful a family twisted and broken up by war. My father buried in a cemetery in Singapore, a brother and sister evacuated to north Devon, myself at in an Army School Nr Woking Surrey and Mum left on her own.
As the train moved out of the station the guard laid his hand on my shoulder endeavouring to cheer me up during my very first experience of living without any of the family around me.
I missed my father dearly and hated the thought that his body lye鈥檚 thousands of miles away and I would never see him again.

A New Venture in my short life
At 13 years 4 months there I was alone with a new friend the train guard and I had hardly no idea where my final destination, although I was aware I was to get of the train at Woking in Surrey. On arrival I was presented by my new friend (the train guard) to the Woking Stn Master.
鈥淥h yes鈥� he said 鈥淵ou鈥檙e Eric Whayman; I believe we鈥檝e been expecting you!鈥� 鈥淭hat鈥檚 right鈥� I replied, 鈥淐ome with me there鈥檚 a nice warm fire in my waiting room鈥�.
A lovely fire was burning in the hearth 鈥淪it down lad and make yourself at home鈥�; tears came into my eyes as this wasn鈥檛 the home I knew. I sat down on the chair which was so big I had trouble in reaching the seat with my feet of the ground feeling nervous and apprehensive wondering what next was going to happen to me next and where I was going.
After 10 minutes or so a young man in uniform ,wearing Gordon Highlanders Tartan trousers, Blue jacket with yellow braiding and a cap with a ribboned tail and three stripes on his jacket arm.
鈥淚 have come to collect Eric Whayman from Plymouth鈥� he said, putting my hand in the air 鈥淭hat鈥檚 me鈥� I replied.
Come with me Eric we have got a short bus journey wont take long to get you settled 鈥�.Collecting my small case with my little treasures I followed him to the bus stop. After a few minuets a single decker bus arrived boarding us then on our way. Some 20 minutes later we arrived at a village called West End, where w e alighted, once again it was pouring with rain
We walked for some 200yds, entering a gate on the edge of a large playing field, nicely kept, with a cricket pitch in the centre and 2 football pitches.
This place was the Gordon Boys Home a memorial home to the late General Gordon of Khartoum.
We continued walking towards some buildings old fashioned in construction.
On three sides of the playing were a very large number of conker trees.
Ahead and to the left were the homes chapel where preceded into the main square.
(known as the parade ground) This was encircled by the dormitories, workshops, cookhouse, library and a small tuck shop
A parade of young boys was taking place consisting of 4 platoons of 60 boys ranging in age from thirteen to sixteen. A senior boy sergeant was taking the parade giving positive load commands whilst marching up and down the parade ground 鈥渓eft right, Left right, right wheel, halt, right turn, stand at ease.
At this point I didn鈥檛 feel too upset at the commands, as fortunately even at the tender age of thirteen; the army life was familiar to me. But however for the first time a lump came into my throat and tears came into my eyes; I all of a sudden became very lonely and isolated from my home life. Remembering my mother was left at home all on her own to cope with the air-raids and the isolation from her family. Would I ever see my mother again?
I was soaking wet and cold and felt extremely depressed, at that moment a hand was laid on my shoulder, 鈥淐ome along young man 鈥淐heer up, you will soon be out there amongst the boys and making many friends and there鈥檚 lots of things to do and learn鈥� I felt a little better after those encouraging words from my escort.
鈥淐ome along into the office we are going to sort where you are going to sleep and sort your uniforms out鈥�.
On entry I was given a number 5497 as the number I would keep until I leave. When that would be I hadn鈥檛 a clew.
After these formalities I was taken one of the dormitories and shown my bed. The bed consisted of steel wired frame base, three square mattresses, one pillow, 2 tweed blankets and 2 sheets a steel locker stood next to the bed, plus one small shelf fixed to the wall and that was my residents for the next 3 years.
I was shown how to make my bed up and also each morning the mattresses sheet and blankets fold and stacked in a regimental way and would be inspected every morning at eight-thirty a.m.
Each dormitory had one small communal slated wash basin with cold running water, an open toilet pan and urinal and a cold concrete floor...
I was introduced to the boy next to me called Des and he took me to the cookhouse for my first meal which was tea time. It was very nosey place; we had to queue for our ration of food. Which wasn鈥檛 very appetising as wartime rationing was in place.
I remember to this day my first night in my new surroundings, I laid awake with thoughts of my mother the isolation without her comforting me, listening to 20 other boys sleeping in various sounds. Getting up to go to the cold floor toilet in the dark. Although I had left the air raids of Plymouth I still could hear the drone of German aircraft flying over to targets else where in the country.
Woking was only some 40 miles from London and we could hear the sounds of explosions from doodle bugs and later the V1 rocket attacks.
The next 3 Years of Military Disciplines
During my first year the name was changed to: - The Gordon Boys School.
The Governors were Brigadier Harris and Group Captain Ingram. They were both ex-army personal. Disciplinarians but fair, but misbehaving would not be tolerated.
Punishment for certain serious offences were dealt with very firmly, the cane on the bare backside was frequently used for stealing and bullying This was administered by one of the service managers assisted by boy NCO鈥橲 by holding the offender face down on a bench as much 6 cuts at a time could be given and the scars would visible for some time afterwards
Boy鈥檚 ages ranged from 13 to 16/17 and every boy had the opportunity to become an NCO.
The Gordon Boys School was based on Army disciplines; there were 4 dormitories, each dormitory comprising of
NICO鈥檚 were chosen from the boys at the school; 1 Sergeant, 2 Corporals, 4 L|cpls, and 60 boys, and 1 Staff\Sgt with overall responsibilities.

General Daily Routine
Bungle sounded reveille at 6.45.a.m. each morning and lights out was at 9.p.m.
Winter and summer twice per week at 7.05.a.m we would parade outside our dormitory in our shorts and singlet and do 2/3 laps of the playing field
The beds had to make up to a certain standard, the dormitory cleaned thoroughly before 8.45.a.m. after which the morning parade and inspection, carried out by the boy staff sergeant accompanied by one of the Governors.
Church parades every Sunday was always a special occasion.
There were many opportunities to play sport and we were encouraged by the Governors to participate. The sporting facilities were excellent considering it was wartime, such as Football, Cricket, Swimming, Gymnastics, Athletics, the list was unending.
Trades were also taught. Engineering, Carpentry, Tailoring, Musical Instruments, Cooking and Shoemaking.
I was never far away from the bombing although Air raids had slowed down鈥� Doodle Bugs and Rockets (V1) were not far away.
The thousand bomber raid over Germany was an experience to watch both the outward and return flights
And watching bombers returning heavily damaged, struggling to reach their landing base.
And wondering how many casualties there were.
After a few months I settled down into the schools routine, I decided to learn Engineering and play a musical instrument. As well as taking up football and cricket. So my mind became occupied with plenty to think about. Comradeship with other boys came into and was an important part of my life and overall life began to be enjoyable.
Fridays was an important day as it was pay day my 1st year I received 3d a week and the school tuck shop was the highlight of the week. (Boiled sweets was all that was available)
The first year at the school I became a drummer boy and played in the schools drum and fife band and the bagpipe band and I was promoted to L/Cpl and got a pay rise to 6d/week
I finished my last 9 months at the rank of Sgt, my pay was raised to 1/9d, per week and was responsible for the welfare and care of a dormitory, a total capacity 66 other boys. I believe spending a lot time with my father helped me to carry out my responsibilities.
But there was some thing missing, I had not heard from my mother, and then one day I received a letter with a Postal Order for 拢2 enclosed. This was a relief to me to hear from her my mother visited me once only during the 3 years at the school She also told she was getting married and moving back to London, My future step father was a London fireman, transferred to Plymouth during the blitzes,
In July 1946 it was time for me to return to home, where my brother and sister had already been reunited as a new family .My mother had already made enquiries for interview with a local engineering company as an apprentice toolmaker. This was arranged, gathering all the tools I had made in the school workshop over the past 3 years I travelled to London meeting my mother at Waterloo Stn travelling on to the interview.
The interview was successful and showing the tools I had already made prior to my 16th birthday I was accepted, I left the school in July 1946 and started my apprenticeship. I successfully finished the 5year
apprenticeship. At 21 years of age I joined the RAF a National Serviceman working in Stn workshops at RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire, at the rank of Senior Aircraftman.

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