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Glynn鈥檚 war time memories have been recalled by his Brother, Gerry Howe.

Glynn as one of 3000 young men who trained in Canada and England as Telegraphist Air Gunners in the open cockpit of the Swordfish aeroplane. Many of these young men met Canadian girls and went back to live in Canada after the warm and the rest have kept the link of friendship with the Canadians over the years, and have returned for holidays and Reunions.

Glynn came to the village of Alton with his family in 1979 to work for Blue Circle, Waterhouses, and then chose to stay in Staffordshire for his retirement after being here for many happy years. He died in 2000.

Glynn was my older brother (by tow years). Like most boys growing up during the Second World War, his great ambition was to take part in the 鈥渇ight-back鈥�. This feeling became even more intense after our family home was badly damaged in November 1940 during the bombing of Coventry. At the time he was 15-years-old.

Although not old enough to 鈥淛oin Up鈥�, he felt he must do what he could to prepare himself for the fight ahead. One must remember that, after the Dunkirk episode, Winston Churchill was rallying us all to prepare to 鈥渇ight them on the beaches, etc鈥� Boys between the ages of 15 and 17 were encouraged to join either the Army Cadettes of the Air Training Corps. Glynn chose the ATC.

In the early stages of its development the ATC was rather a 鈥渉otch-pot鈥� of an organisation, at least it was in out rather gentile town of Royal Leamington Spa, which is right in the centre of England! However, First World War Veterans, School-masters and like volunteers were rounded up to teach these boys such things as military discipline, mathematics, Morse code, map reading, etc. This training, combined with occasional visits to RAF stations, with the prospect of seeing real aeroplanes and, maybe getting a flights worked wonders with these young 鈥渞ecruits鈥�. One must remember that this was a period of great austerity, with U Boat submarines taking a terrible toll of out merchant shipping. Food, fuel and clothing were severely rationed. Eventually, the Air Ministry was able to find a complete uniform for each cadet! Very few fitted perfectly, but doting mothers soon got busy with their sewing machines.

Glynn was always good at Maths, English and shorthand; his Dad had been a signaller in World War 1 and was able to practise Morse code with him. As a result he made fast promotion in the ATC and eventually becoming a Flight Sergeant.

At the age of 17 he volunteered for service with the Fleet Air Arm and, as soon as he was 18 he was told to report to 鈥淗MS Royal Arther鈥�. 鈥淩oyal Arther鈥� turned out to be a wooden hutted pre-war Holiday Camp at Skegness-on-Sea, on the east-coast of England. In the summer Skegness is probably a very pleasant place to live. It has miles of sandy beaches and nothing but the North Sea until you reach mainland Europe! Glynn arrived there on a bitterly cold winter鈥檚 day. He was issued with Naval Greatcoat, Sailors Cap, had a full medical examination and was told that the men in his hut were on fire-watch duty that night! There watch position was on the highest point 鈥攖he flat roof of the only brick building. Where else would one scan the sight for incendiary bombs?! Two house 鈥渙n鈥� and two hours 鈥渙ff鈥� duty all night. Groups worked in pairs, each had a whistle, to sound as an alarm! Not a very auspicious welcome to life on the open waves. However, things did improve. HMS Royal Arther turned out to be an Initial Assessment Depot where recruits were checked over before dispersal to more appropriate training units. All recruits were also issued with standard Naval Uniform, with money belt, inflatable life-belt, a hammock, mattress, spare canvas mattress covers, clothes brushed, shoe brushes, boot blacking and even a tooth brush. This was the way 鈥淭heir Lords of the Admiralty鈥� had always sent a sailor to sea so why change the system now?

Find out about Glynn鈥檚 life in the Navy at Glynn Howe off to sea.

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Jim Salveson of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of Glynn Howe & Gerry Howe and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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