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I volunteered for the RAF but was turned down for my eye sight.
I joined the RASC — I had driven a truck for the family.
I also helped in the kitchen.
I remember being with a Welsh man.
There were dreadful raids.
I survived 57 raids in London.
One particular Easter time my wife had been to visit for a few days. We were near to Crystal Palace and they'd park vehicles there. The Tower was there and they used it as a guide.
We demolished the tower that day.
They came over that night.
I was sharing a room and they dropped a land mine on the company. I was sitting at the window writing a letter to the wife.
I moved to talk to my room mate and the window came in.

"I walk beside you" was my favourite song. I would sing to the lads.
I used to sing at the forces canteen.

I was married at the beginning of the war. I came home when I could to Leicester. My wife kept the flat on.
I was invalided out and became an ammunitions clerk.
I came back to Leicester and was an attendance officer for schools.

We had a street party when the war ended.

This story was entered on to the People's War website by Lisa Reeves of CSV Action Desk Leicester on behalf of Arthur Riley and has been added with his permission. The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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