大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Vijiha Bashir, at 大象传媒 Scotland on behalf J. Scott Ward from Johnstone and has been added to the site with the permission of Johnstone History Society. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was 14 years of age when the Second World War was declared and just weeks after that my brother and I were detailed for EVACUATION.

Arriving in Largs by train 鈥淒uly Labelled鈥� we were herded into one of the local Halls and like sheep we tended to huddle together not knowing what fate awaited us. Several large ladies, looking rather 鈥榖usiness like鈥� appeared and they were to decide whether or not my brother & I appealed to them. It looked very likely that we would be separated, but, for once in my life I stood my ground and insisted that wherever we were to go, we would go together.

Probably the largest of the aforementioned ladies had decided that as the owner of a large house and it being run as a Bed and Breakfast establishment, here was another business opportunity, at 10/6d a head, 16 boys would bring a tidy sum which would supplement a winter鈥檚 income. So after we were all transported to this money making establishment and allocated rooms we settled in best we could. However it was hardly surprising that two weeks later the large lady of the house had procured a doctors line stating that there had been a rapid deterioration of her nervous faculties. Evacuation for my brother & I ceased to be, although for some more fortunate it would last for many years.

At 15 years of age I was accepted as a Boy Messenger in the Auxiliary Fire Service. A year later, I became attached to the Home Guard and trained in all things military. Due for call-up at 18, I went to the enrolment depot and asked if I could become a Royal Marine 鈥� the only sure way this could happen was to volunteer which I did without hesitation and as a callow youth of 17 years of age. I reported to the Royal Marine Depot, Lympstone in Devon. After basic training we carried out duties all over the South of England and were some time in Tilbury.

Embarkation Leave 鈥� Leaving Southampton early in 1945 we set sail in a troop ship bound for? No one knew where and after 6 weeks spent on the high seas haunted with the thought of being sent to the bottom of the ocean, we finally arrived via the Suez Canal and the Read Sea in Colombo, Ceylon.

During our long sea journey the Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima bringing a quick end to the war with Japan. We journeyed overland to the huge naval base at Trincomalee, North East Sri Lanka. Camped in the jungle on the edge of the base, we trained in the art of quelling riots which seemed to break out at regular intervals in the surrounding area.

For the rest if 1945 we remained stationed in this area and it wasn鈥檛 until mid 1946 that we finally set sail for our home. Our return journey was more comfortable than our arrivals as there was no troop ship blackout, no chance of being torpedoed and we were transported aboard one of the Royal Navy鈥檚 latest Aircraft Carriers.

In August of 1946 we anchored off Southampton and four weeks later I was being kited out with my 鈥榙emob suit鈥� etc. Ready for a return to Civvie Street!

September 2005 鈥� This year I celebrated my 80th birthday and will travel to Lympstone in Devon as an 鈥榠nvited guest鈥� to watch the Pass out of 892 troop, the King Squad, Royal Marine Commando Unit when the coveted 鈥淕reen Beret鈥� will be presented to each member of the troop 鈥� the time clock of my life having completed the full circle.

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