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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Jenny Christian of the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library on behalf of Leslie Pick and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I recall Sunday, September 3rd 1939 as I waited by the radio for the Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, to speak to the nation. At just after 11 o’clock we all knew that, for the second time that century we were at War with Germany. Most of us had feared right through 1938 that this might be coming – and so it was!

I was 13 and the next day I went to school with great apprehension. It was discussed with my greatest schoolmates and we consoled ourselves in the knowledge that the 1914 -1918 war lasted 4 years, so this new war could not possibly last longer. We would only be 17 years old then. So wouldn’t have to worry about being called up for military service!

Teenage years were spent in a set routine. I eventually left School at 14 years old and secured a job locally, after temporary jobs, as an auctioneer’s clerk. Each day was occupied all day and in the evenings. Later I attended Air Training Corps sessions, joined the local Civil Defence Corps as a night time messenger at the ambulance station and was also engaged as a firewatcher at the nearby laundry on night duty. Socially I went to the cinema twice a week. Most evenings at 6 o’clock I would listen on the wireless to Lord Haw Haw.

This was my life, until my 18th Birthday loomed. I went off to Grantham for a medical and had to go before a selection Board. I was told that the RAF were not requiring any new recruits. The choice was the Army or the coal mines. It was with reluctance, I chose the Army. Upon returning home I handed in all my ATC equipment and resigned in disgust after over 2 year’s service.

Call up came on September 14th 1944 when I was summoned to Newcastle upon Tyne for primary training. After 3 – 4 months I was posted to the Royal Horse Artillery and spent 20 months in India, with later shorter spells in Egypt, Suez Canal Zone and Palestine. In 1947 I came home for demobilisation and was released in 1948

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