大象传媒

Born in a hamlet called Beadlow, between Clophill and Shefford, i was educated at Clophill school until the age of 13 years when we moved to Shefford, where i finished my schooling.
My first job was for W.B Moss & Sons, the local grocer as a warehouseman for a wage of 10/-per week, (2/6d for me and 7/6d for my mother.
In 1941 i joined the RAF as Aircrew and was posted to Cardington, but after a period of nothing but gas mask drill a batch of us were returned home because of the lack of training facilities. After a few weeks i got fed up with waiting so i joined the Army. I was posted to Nelson Bks, Norwich for infantry training which i enjoyed, but the pay was still 10/- per week.
i was posted to L.P.T.B at Kilburn for a driving course when we were billeted in bombed out houses at Catford. The conditions were terrible, roofs torn away, no water, no electricity and a bus ride to Chiswick to wash and shave; breakfast at the Napier Sports club.
My next posting was to Moores' garage in Brighton where we were told that we had been posted to a new outfit called REME (never heard of them). I really enjoyed my days in Brighton, the civvy billets were marvellous. My next posting was to Kilburn where i went throught a fitting course and had to put up with German bombers on their nightly raids.
Next stop was 12 Bn RAOC, Old Dalby, Nottingham, where i really got browned off and after complaining to the CO i was sent straight home on embarkation leave. i embarked on the "Highland Princess" at Greenock and we joined a large convoy. After dodging about in the Atlantic avoiding
U-boats we passed through Gib and sailed sedately along the Med until the convoy came under heavy attack by Junkers 88's. We arrived at Port Said and continued, by train, along side of the Canal to Suez where we waited some weeks for another ship. At Suez i was taken ill and spent some time in 13th General Hhospital where i attended a medical bored who recommended me for a colder climate. I was released on 'special discharge' and boarded th "Empire Woodlark" which was a right load of scrap; and where did it sail to - Bombay!!!! I arrived at 516 Command wksps, Trimulgherry and worked on tanks. I was flown into Burma in a Dakota where i joined 82 LAA/ATK Regt.LAD,17th Indian Division. We arrived at Imphal wgere we bacame surrounded by the Japanese. I spent my 21st birthday in imphal. All our needs were supplied by Dakota; they were marvellous. After the relife of Imphal we went by road to Ranchi for convelescence and re-equiptment. I drove a Ford Quad towing a Bofor's gun for the whole journey. At Ranchi i joined the newly formed 44th Indian Airbournw Div. and after parachute training was posted to 23rd parachute LAA/ATK Regt LADat Secunderbad. The Div. moved to Bilaspur, in the Central Pronvinces but i came home for a mounth 'LIAP', by Dakota (5days). I went back to India on the "Empress of scotland", arrived at Bombayand was sent to Bangalore where the riots were in full swing. Back to Bilaspur and then the Div. moved to Karachi where we were engaged in dropping of guns and jeeps, by Halifax bombers. We were already to invade Malaya, when the war ended, thank goodness. we were kept busy modifying jeeps for the Long Range Desert Group chasing tje Jif tribesmen in the Sind Desert. We become involved with the Karachi roits, converting trucks into Riot Wagons.
On repatriation, i left Bombay on the "Queen of Bermuda" and arrived home at Liverpool at the end of 1946. After disembarkation leave i was posted to a Transit Camp at Otley, Yorks and then on to Fulford Barracks where i was permanent Guard Commander, until i was Demobbed from Fulford Barracks in July 1947 with the rank of W/S Sgt.
After demob i entered the job market and actually had the choise of three jobs all to start on the sma emonday. i settled for a small form in Baldock " Warner & Williams" a "RAC + AA" appointed garage and also operated ten taxis + private hire cars. It was varied work, motor mechanic and taxi driver which included funerals and weddings and on saturdays during the summer months converting passengers to and from coastal resorts. we did two trips a day to Clacton or Jatwhich ect for which i recieved ten shillings. My weekly wage was seven pounds. I spent four and a half years, very enjoyable years at Warner + Williams but felt now it was time to move on to Pastures new.
1951 i started work for BRS at Stevenage repairing heavy commercial vehicles. The hours were very long, thirteen hours away from home was two much so i looked for other work.
1952 i moved to London Brick Co at Stewartby working on a large fleat of commercial vehicals.
1953 In March i married Audrey, the best thing i ever did.
1954 I had a serious accident at work repalling in three prolapst invertabral discs and the base of my spin. I had a spell in hospital and a plaster cast for eighteen weeks. I returned to work after fourteen months wearing a support belt. My job now was repairing all the Diescel fuel injection equiptment on the L.B.C fleet.
1970 i left L.B.C and joined Beds fuel injection service at Bedford to manage their fuel injection shop.
1977 joined Kilbush Bedford Ltd to create and manage fuel injection shop- Kilbush taken over Servoway Ltd.
1983 left Servoway to start my own business C R White fuel injection services Ltd.
1985 Serious car accident, american service man lost control and colided head on killing the american passenger. I substained broken ribs, brusing and sevire whiplash which i still suffer from.
1988 Retired.
life very full after retirement, our son live in Devon. We usually visit about four times a year. Our daughter lives much closer at Southill about two and a half miles away.
Interests include:- photography, collecting old local postcards, stamps, family tree, ballroom dancing, steam engines, aircraft and gardening. Mostly my wifes demain due to my whiplash problems. Also committe member Bedford Burma Star Ass,second Indian airbourne Devision OCA and para Ass.
I still maintain contact with my old commanding officer from India days 'Major Peter Humffries", we phome each other and talk over old times.
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the 'Gurka' troops, the Decota aircraft and allied aircrew, but for them i wouldnt be here now.

Chalky White

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