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On the 3rd September 1939, the 2nd World War was declared. Leslie
Dobinson was just a 14-year old boy when this life changing event was
declared. Now sixty-six years on, Les recalls some of his unusual
experiences that relate to the momentous events of that time.

As a result of the war, the London schools, including the one which Les
attended, were forced to close, resulting in Les being moved to the
countryside with his infant sister Olive to live with his Aunt. After
months of working as a poultry farmer, Les moved back to London to
work with his father in his butcher's shop. In a move to improve his
lot, Les got a job working in a stock brokers office in the city
of London, but eventually became fully engaged in the Civil Defence
Organisation at the control centre which was situated in the
basement Leyton Town Hall. This then led to his full-time employment
there as a local Government Officer.

As well as being a non-commision officer in the Air Training Corps
since it's inauguration, he had joined the Home Guard with his father,
who consequently was a Sergeant. It is from here that one of Les'
interesting stories comes from. On being given a lift home, from a
night-time drill during an air raid, Les arrived just as a shower of
incendiary bombs were falling. One of these landed a yard away from
the stationary vehicle. He leapt out to take cover under the truck,
before realising the folly of his action. When his father jumped out
to deal with the bomb, Les rolled out just as the driver took off,
narrowly missing him.

Eventually, Les joined the RAF for training as a Wireless Mechanic
since defective colour vision prevented him from his intended
enlistment as air crew. He was soon to join the Second Tactical
Air Force serving on a Mobile Signals Servicing Unit, which landed
on Omaha Beach in support of the Americans shortly after D-Day. One
day which sticks in his memory is the 4th July 1944, American's
Independance Day. This was taken as an excuse for the well-sheltered
GI's to use all available armaments to attack a German reconnaisance
aircraft, which was well out of range. The resultant fall-out included
shell fragments against which the canvas tents afforded no protection,
resulting in his adjacent bedmate in losing his foot.

His service continued as the front advanced successively liberating
cities in France, Belgium, Holland and through to the occupation of
Germany. Following the cessation of hostilities he liaised with the
French air force in the sale of redundant communications equipment.

Last year, Les attended the 60th anniversary of D-Day commemoration at
the American Cemetary above omaha Beach and as the sole RAF Veteran
present was entertained in the VIP area, a few rows from the podium
from which George Bush and Jaques Chirac made their presentations,
with Tom Hanks (Private Ryan) in the front row. he was also introduced
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a number of Senators
and all senior ranks present from 4-star to 1-star Generals, none of
whom were aware of any British participation in the D-Day landings on
Omaha Beach.

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