大象传媒

The following story appears courtesy of and with thanks to Arthur Cope, R. A. (T. A.) and Richard A. Cope.

The date was August, 1939. In just over three weeks my wage was due to double - leaping from 拢2 to 拢4 a week! What an exciting prospect. Soon I would complete my six years apprenticeship at the 'Northern Daily Telegraph', which I had joined on September 11th, 1933. Not only would I then become a fully-fledged journeyman-compositor, but I would have more money in my pocket.
At least that is what I anticipated. But this was not to be.
Before the month was out I was rudely awakened early in the morning by someone hammering on the front door. On going down-stairs I found a boy bearing a telegram. This instructed me to report to the barracks at Church (near Accrington, Lancashire), to join my Territorial colleagues in the 52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery, who had also been hurriedly summoned to prepare to serve their King and Country.
So, all because of a certain little man called Adolf Hitler, I missed the thrill of being handed that very big wage packet!
The telegram instructed me to report in battledress and with full kit at 0800 hours. Carrying my kit-bag over my shoulder I boarded the Blackburn to Accrington tram. I gave the conductor sixpence and said "Church, please." He handed me my ticket and change, which I slipped into my pocket.
It was not until much later in the day that I found the ticket and casually glanced at it prior to throwing it away. What a surprise I got, for it was only then that I realised that even though I was in uniform and with a kit-bag, the conductor had issued me with a WORKMAN'S RETURN ticket!
It was six-and-a-half years later before I again donned civilian clothing and I have often wondered if Blackburn Corporation Transport would have allowed me to make use of that ticket for the return tram ride from Church.

Continued.....
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