大象传媒

We were disembarking. I scrounged a piece of string from a crew member to keep my sack up, found a blanket which I draped round myself and a pair of knotted khaki socks and joined the queue and down the gangplank I proceeded. I was immediately pounced upon, manhandled by two keen young R.A.M.C. orderlies with a stretcher. I say 鈥榶oung鈥� and I was only 19 but felt very superior. I must have looked a sight, no clothes, a filthy bandage on my left hand 鈥� still there 鈥� remarkable. I refused to go on the stretcher, they must have thought that I was deranged and it was certainly one of the most stupid things I ever did. Showing off I suppose. A new casualty being carried down the gangplank attracted their attention.

I rejoined the queue which I remember was in the road by some shops. A man appeared from a shoe shop and asked me what size I took and reappeared with a pair of crepe soled sandals which we used to wear as kids. I thanked the shopkeeper and I put on my footwear and I felt much more comfortable but was having some trouble with the string holding up my sack. A R.N. car drew up alongside and a sub lt. said that I couldn鈥檛 queue up like that and told the driver to take me and get me kitted up. I explained that I was 鈥榓rmy鈥� and he laughed and said it would only be a temporary attachment. So I was taken to the Naval Barracks 鈥� HMS something or other presumably and given a blouse and some trousers which fastened in an odd fashion and returned to the queue. After a lengthy queue at the station urinal we were packed into a train and after some time off we went.

In response to 鈥渨e don鈥檛 want the navy on this train鈥� I explained that I was army but the navy had been good enough to clothe me. Off we went, where we knew not, but I was almost on home ground. We went slowly through the fields of Kent mostly dozing for there was little conversation and most hadn鈥檛 managed the sleep I had had. Sevenoaks, Grove Park and Hither Green 鈥� my station where we stopped. The W.V.S. were there in force, first of all, tea. Then to the table where the ladies were cutting bread, spreading dollops of pink fish paste on the buttered slices and slapping the top slice on and cutting the two slices in half into manageable sized sandwiches. A number of us hadn鈥檛 had anything substantial to eat for days, urinated indiscriminately at the end of the platform and rejoined the train but unfortunately not the same carriage and not the seat at the window I had had previously. I again explained that I was not navy. We dozed and I was surprised to find we were passing through unknown territory and deduced that we were in the South Midlands and going North. We stopped for a while at Stratford on Avon. We had been S.R. and were now L.M.S without changing 鈥� wonderful. It was early evening 鈥� and off we went again and eventually arrived at Warrington, Lancashire, but which is now Cheshire. All that on one train! I remember passing, I don鈥檛 remember how, through large barrack gates 鈥� 鈥淭he South Lancashire Regiment鈥�. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 take navy here鈥� someone said and I explained once more my situation.

We were fed 鈥� one fried egg and lots and lots of chips and bread and tea. Then we settled down fully clothed on the floor of a gymnasium with one blanket each. It was quiet very quickly. In the early hours I woke with a dreadful stomach pain. I realised I was about to have uncontrollable diarrhoea. I got outside in a desperate hurry 鈥� too late! What to do? There were a very few dimmed lights and I saw a barrack block opposite. I investigated and found to my relief that there were loos and showers there. I also noticed that there was a large pile of coal at the outside end wall. I took my trousers off and buried my filthy pants in the coal and carrying my trousers which weren鈥檛 too filthy I returned to the showers. To my delight I found that the water was quite warm so had a shower which was heavenly, turned my trousers inside out and washed where necessary, wrung them out, turned trousers outside in and damp but clean, dressed and returned to the gymnasium. It really was very dark. I snuggled in the blanket and settled down again. My bodily heat seemed to dry me for in the morning I was dry and comfortable. This is one incident I remember so clearly when so much else is blurred or forgotten.

In the morning we formed a queue to report our survival. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have navy here鈥� the sergeant said. Here we go again I thought. I again explained my situation and was taken out of the queue to the adjutant鈥檚 office. He asked me for my identity discs and of course I hadn鈥檛 got any. I explained why not and said they were on the beach in my battle dress trouser pocket. He very decently gave me the third degree 鈥� name, rank regiment etc. Full Christian names, where did I live, 44, who lived at 46. Emmett I said, and 48, Ralegh. Where did I go to school 鈥� what was the head鈥檚 name 鈥� describe him - that was easy he was very lame, a club foot from W.W.1. name Dr Sinclair. He said not to worry but report to the guard commander at midday and every four hours. I wandered on to the parade ground. There were hundreds there 鈥� nobody I knew, we just mooched about and talked. I reported to the guard commander and had a midday stew. I began to wish I could bang a card board round my neck saying 鈥淎rmy not Navy鈥�. In the afternoon some who looked reasonably respectable and who had showered were allowed out in Warrington. I reported to the guard commander at 4 and was expected so I signed the book as previously. Some one shouted to me 鈥� Doug 鈥� Dawes and a bombardier emerged from a group and shook hands. Evans who had been in my class at Torridon Juniors said 鈥渨hat are you dressed like that for?鈥� He had gone to Roan School and I hadn鈥檛 seen him for 9 years although he was in the other battery in my regiment. I took him to the adjutant鈥檚 office and demanded an audience from the sergeant clerk in the office. The adjutant eventually appeared; I was satisfactorily identified. The adjutant wrote a note and sent me to the Regt Quartermaster Sgt and my naval gear was exchanged for the necessary battledress. Someone even sewed the stripes on. All this palaver because we went to Sheerness and not Dover where they were probably overwhelmed.

So there I was a survivor after a hard time 鈥� all spick and span amongst a really scruffy lot. Allowed out if fairly decent. Several with new battledresses 鈥� others with tears in blouse, trousers etc and one I remember had a uniform which smelt awful and was stiff with dried blood 鈥� someone else鈥檚 he said. There were some civilians 鈥� grown ups as distinct from the girls who were waiting for trouble. A very pleasant youngish couple asked if we would like to go to tea with them. We couldn鈥檛 say no. So we went 鈥� nice car, nice ride in nice country and a nice high tea in a nice house 鈥� lots of chat and back to barracks for evening meal. Next day we ventured into town, thought we would have 陆 pint beer. We must have been given some pay but I don鈥檛 remember. A nice pub, had our half pint and a chat with some locals and more beer was bought and brought to us several times 鈥� 鈥淕entlemen over there鈥� they said. It had to stop and Evans got the publican to announce 鈥渘o more beer for the soldiers please鈥�. And we left several pints on the table and suggested the next soldiers who came in were presented with them. Evans was repelling an old lady who wanted them to have tripe and trotters 鈥� what was that we wondered.

We read the papers and realised what a desperate state we had been in 鈥渟urrounded by a ring of fire and steel鈥� said one reporter. 鈥淒esperately fighting for survival鈥� said another. In fact most of the BEF and most of the French troops in the area had been retreating too fast for the Germans to catch up. In those last days it was the comparatively small number in the rearguard of the Dunkirk perimeter who deserved the credit.

We were sent on leave to await orders. My friend Stan Garnham was already home. I phoned the Laxtons and Bruce was due the next day. My cousin Cliff from the original unit the 91st was also ok. After a few days Stan and I had orders to join the regiment in Devonshire. We arrived at Oakhampton Station and found that there was a reception committee meeting every train and lorries to take everyone to their particular destination. My troop - it may have been the whole battery but I鈥檓 not sure about that - was accommodated in bell tents by the side of a river in a village called Hatherleigh. No one knew who had managed to get home and there was excitement when each train was met and someone else appeared.

After 2 or 3 days we became aware that there were very few of the troop missing. In addition to the two casualties I had been personally aware of 鈥� Second Lieutenant George Siley and Gunner Jack Clark. We learned with great sadness that Jack Clark had been evacuated to England but had died of his wound.

As soon as the train ceased to produce any more survivors and the roll call was finalised we were sent to Rhos On Sea, Colwyn Bay, and accommodated in hotels on the sea front 鈥� alas that lasted only a few days and once again we were to be in bell tents at Penmaenmawr. The other battery I believe was in Llanfarfechan. I celebrated my 20th birthday here. After a few weeks guarding the railway tunnel on the line to Holyhead 鈥� it was explained how vital this was 鈥� we again moved to tents at Overton on Dee, Flintshire detached, Ellesmere, Shropshire 鈥� we were fascinated by this address.

Bruce and I were sent to Oswestry for an interview with the panel to see if we were suitable to be Officer Cadets. Very confident, had been in action in the army nearly a year, two stripes. Interview was a pleasant occasion. All the expected questions were answered adequately. What did I think of the Germans? Said what fine and efficient soldiers they were but how a cultured Western European nation had been led astray by Hitler. Got the impression that they thought Jerry was a good chap. Managed to work in my experience with Hitler Youth in 1936. Parted with smiles and a smart salute. Knew, quite sure, I was accepted. Bruce similar.

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