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Times were hard in the 1930’s and my father decided to join the T.A. So that he could buy the children’s winter coats with the signing on payment of £5. His timing was poor as two weeks later the Munich crisis of 1938 arose. There was of course ‘ No Peace In Our Time’ and in 1940 he was part of the country’s first lone of defence on the East Coast.
Despite Mr. Churchill’s brave words, the line was very thin indeed. His company’s ‘Arms’ consisted of one ‘ Bren gun’ with no tripod and three rounds of ammunition. The men asked the sergeant what they should do if German Paratroops came, and were told to break off tree branches and hit them with it! Fortunately this tactic didn’t have to be tested.

This story was submitted to the Peoples war site by Rod Aldwinckle of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of Frank Mason., and has been added to the site with his permission.. The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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