大象传媒

This a summary of a recorded interview with Mr W (Bill) Williams
Recorded on the: 15 December 2005

My name is William Williams. I was christened William in memory of an uncle who was killed during the 1914-1918 war and has no known grave. I was born the 4th May 1924.

I was 15 years old at outbreak of war. I was not aware that war was about to start. I heard the declaration of war while I was on a bicycle ride. I had stopped at a shop in Irlam, to buy an Aero chocolate bar. I went straight back home, excited about prospect of war. My father threatened to 鈥渟trip the hide off me if I volunteered鈥�. My father, grandfather and uncles all served during the 1914-1918 war.

I volunteered and joined the Home Guard that were attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers, Cross Lane Barracks, Salford. We went out on 鈥渟chemes, what the army called manoeuvres鈥� 鈥淪unday mornings creeping along hedgerows. I was what they called a call out man. The captain would let me know that early on Sunday morning there was going to be a call out. I had to go all around Pendleton and Salford telling certain men, who in turn would go and tell other men that they had to report to the barracks immediately. A lot of these men were colliers and they had been out drinking beer on the Saturday night. The first time that I had to call out my contact (it was 2 o鈥檆lock in the morning) I got the contents of a 鈥済uzunder鈥� (chamber pot) thrown over me from the bedroom window. I only fell for that once, after that I always stepped back from the house after I had woken the contact up鈥�.

When I received my call up papers I was in a reserved occupation and did not have to join the forces, but I wanted to. I joined the Kings Liverpool Regiment on the 5th November. I reported to Harrington(?) Barracks, Formby near to Liverpool. After 6 weeks basic training I was posted to a 鈥渉olding battalion鈥� at Kirk Burton, 5 miles from Huddersfield, Yorkshire. I was then moved to Northern Ireland, for 18 months.

On the basis of an aptitude test, which consisted of assembling a bicycle pump, I was selected for the Royal Signals 鈥� 6th Command Signals, Army Communications, wireless operator training. After which I was 鈥渁ttached signal鈥� to 14th Regiment Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Royal Infantry, as the CO鈥檚 operator. At this time they were training in the use of artillery. I was involved with the testing of a new 鈥�21 fixed or portable (man pack) wireless set鈥�. We were moved to Lincolnshire, billeted in Grantham Castle. I was then posted to Y Group attached to Enigma decoding. 鈥淲e had a marvellous intelligence system, we always worked on German time, we knew that at regular times, the German enigma operators would switch from one frequency to another predetermined frequency鈥�. 鈥淚 volunteered for overseas service鈥�.

鈥淚 was returning from embarkation leave and arrived at Huddersfield, too late to catch the last bus. I went to the R.T.O. (Regimental Transport Officer) who sorted out any problems that you experienced when travelling. He stamped my pass book to prove that I had reported to him before midnight and sent me to a billet for the night, telling me to be at the first parade in the morning so that I could catch the first bus. When I returned the following morning, I was arrested and accused of ignoring a telegram telling me to report back to the regiment 24 hours earlier than I was due ( I had not received a telegram ) this now meant that I was 48 hours absent without leave, which is a Court Marshal Offence. While I was waiting in the 鈥渟lammer鈥� it was discovered that the telegram had been sent to the wrong W Williams鈥�. 24 hours after returning to my unit I was in Greenock, Scotland, boarding the P&O CHITRAL, a freight boat that had been converted to carry troops. With no idea of where we were going. We travelled in convoy. During our journey 2 ships were sunk.

After a month at sea we arrived in Bombay and travelled by train to the Royal Signals Training Camp at MHOW in central India, then on to CAMILLA, where we boarded transport-planes and flew over the 鈥渉ump鈥� (Himalayas) landing at MING LA DON. I was then attached to 33rd Indian Unit. I served in RANGOON and SINGAPOR and remained there until the war ended.

I came home in 1946 on 鈥淏鈥� release. I had worked in the a cotton mill previously and skilled men were needed to work back home. I was put on W/TTA (wireless telegraphy) Reserve indefinitely. 鈥淎s far as I know I am still on the reserve鈥� 鈥渋t was said that when you joined the army your job was safe. But when I returned, I was told that a man with a family was doing my job. I had to take any job and being out on 鈥淏鈥� release meant that I had to serve at least 12 months in the cotton industry before I could go and get a better job鈥�.

鈥淎fter the war there were adverts saying that 45 forces trades were recognised by Trades Unions. When I applied for jobs that employed the skills that he had learned in the forces, no one wanted to know me! I felt a bit soar (aggrieved)鈥�.

Through S.S.A.F.A ( Soldiers, Sailors, Air Force Association) I got a job at DIAL House in Salford as a night telephonist. After two years I finished and joined the Post Office as a Postman in Walkden. I retired at 60 years of age.

After I retired my health started to fail and I became depressed. I then heard about and joined the BURMA STAR Association. They gave my wife and I support, help and friendship 鈥淚 was low and they picked me up off the floor鈥�. I eventually became chairman of the Walkden branch of the association. It was formed in 1975 and we laid up the Standard at St Paul鈥檚 Church, Walkden and closed the branch in 2005.

The medals that I received: The 1939-45 Star. The Burma Star. The Defence Medal and The War Medal.

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