- Contributed by听
- brssouthglosproject
- People in story:听
- Dennis Abraham
- Location of story:听
- The Downs, Clifton, Badminton House, Gloucestershire
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A5546018
- Contributed on:听
- 06 September 2005
Inspection by Queen Mary
I joined the Air Training Corps during 1941 - I was taught Morse code, navigation and drill. One day the ATC were parading on The Downs and we were inspected by Queen Mary.
A friend of mine, Harry, was Queen Mary鈥檚 bodyguard during World War 2. Harry and his friends were playing cricket in the grounds of Badminton House using just coats as wickets. Queen Mary was walking by noticed this, and sent her Aide-de-Camp across and enquired was that all they had to play cricket with? If so what did they require? Within a few days they received a full set of new cricket equipment to use.
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Nearly Arrested
The ATC gave me two morse keys and buzzers. At home I gave one key and buzzer to my friend next door so that we could practice. I connected the two together with twin bell wire and then we used to practice during the evenings.
One evening I was tapping away when there was a knock at the door - and the next thing I knew my father came into the bedroom with a policeman. He said he was sorry to interrupt. He could evidently hear the tapping of the morse key and thought he could hear a spy transmitting! The policeman said he understood and would report back stating the true position.
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