大象传媒

After doing a spell of menial tasks around the transit camp, I saw a notice on the Order Board that personnel were required to train as 'Cinema Projectionist' for a new Corps being formed to take mobile units around Burma. So I volunteered.
After hearing nothing for three or four weeks, I was suddenly informed that I had been selected for training in this new unit. It was to be called the AKS (Army Kinema Section), later to become CKS (Combined Kinema Section).
I travelled to Bombay alone to join others at a tented camp outside the City centre. We were given an intensive course in handling cinema projection equipment, both 16mm and 35mm and in the theory of motion-picture technique, sound cine and electricity by experts from REME and Bombay Film Studios.
I found this most interesting and at the end of several weeks, I passed out as a qualified projectionist and was immediately promoted to the rank of Sergeant in Dec 鈥�44.
This was indeed a turn-up for the book; three stripes proudly sewn on the sleeve, use of any sergeant鈥檚 mess and best of all, up went the pay some threefold. The Rupee was of course the currency of the day. Just had to write the news home and Dad could not believe I had been made a Sergeant!
Not all of us made the grade but those who did collected a brand-new Canadian Bedford, 15cwt truck (I still have photographs of this) with a 240v generator bolted to the floor and two 16mm Victor projectors and speakers, in padded boxes along the sides
Added to these, a large screen that fitted into a 鈥榯ake-apart鈥� tubular frame, enough spares for any mishaps - and some films.
We were also assigned an Indian soldier known as an IOR (Indian Other Rank) as an assistant who was picked from the Indian Army, usually having, like us, seen some action or been downgraded medically. They were trained to be assistant projectionist and relief driver.
As with so many in India, one could end up with a Sikh, Hindu, Tamil etc. I had a Pathan, a hillman from the North West Frontier, who had I believe been a havildar (sergeant) in the Indian army but was reduced to the ranks through some misdemeanour. He was now a Naik (lance corporal). He was a huge bearded fellow who frightened the life out of me, the first time I saw him, by his size but he was a marvellous companion. One never felt nervous travelling all those thousands of miles, as we did, through Burma with him around. He also acted as batman - such luxury!
The first thing he did on arriving at the location of a show was to make up the Sahib's bed, whether it was in the truck or a sergeant鈥檚 mess and arrange hot water for washing etc. We conversed in a mixture of Urdu (to speak this was a part of getting my third stripe), English and sign language.
Thus equipped and with our new Bedfords, we were all loaded on to long railway 'flats', three trucks to a flat and huffed and puffed our way right across India from Bombay to Calcutta. That would make a story in itself, sleeping, cooking, eating on the 'flat', getting water from the engine for washing and making char. Sleeping on that rocking platform, under the stars.
Calcutta was a much more squalid city than Bombay with many beggars and people dying on the streets during the night to be picked up by the 'death cart' in the morning. The streets teemed with troops of all nationalities: Yanks, Chinese, Malays,
Africans you name them they were there.
After a few days at Calcutta, we were despatched on our separate ways with a list of places to visit. I was assigned a route that was to take me back into Burma more peacefully this time. Food and petrol etc was collected where you could at various units on route and likewise pay.
On arrival at a unit, you would contact the adjutant or like and be shown a place or just space where you were to put on a show. The screen would be erected and held upright with guy ropes, the projectors were placed on their transit boxes and connected to the speakers. The 15cwt was parked at a distance with its generator connected to the projectors with a heavy cable. The film was threaded up and you were ready to start the show.
When dusk fell, there was no twilight, the troops starting arriving, sitting on the ground or on boxes, tree trunks etc in front of (and often behind) the screen and the show would begin.
With the help of the IOR a slick change over from each machine could be obtained; sometimes not so slick and now and then the wrong reel put on by mistake, this would be greeted with boos and catcalls - just like the 'Regal' at home.
The films were quite up-to-date and included cartoons and newsreels flown in from England. The audiences were usually most appreciative and the cinema outfit was always welcome whether it was a proper camp or just a clearing in the jungle.
With this outfit we travelled hundreds of miles all over Burma, visiting all the famous places such as Mandalay, Meiktila, Shewbo, Pegu etc not forgetting Kohima where there is now famous memorial to the 14th Army with this inscription:

'When you go home, tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow we gave our today.鈥�

Some of the locations were near to the front line, in fact sometimes within earshot of heavy guns. Some of the places I had been to as a fighting soldier. ENSA shows toured Burma and India. I saw Vera Lynn performing on a makeshift stage in a jungle clearing, very near the front line with full supporting cast. Likewise Tommy Trinder for whom I helped to generate the juice for the stage lights with the cinema generator He wasn鈥檛 too pleased when they all went out in the middle of his act because someone or an animal had charged through the supply cable.
And so the shows went on wherever possible and, like the fighting did not stop for the monsoon season which lasts some three months. We pressed on despite the rain, which in turn brought the mud. It just added to life's difficulties; something else to be overcome.
After a long spell with the 15cwt, I was given a 30cwt truck with a single Kaylee 35mm projector, with RCA sound, mounted to project over the cab through an aperture. There was an additional 15cwt truck and driver for the power supply. These were proper cinema arc projectors and the 35mm film was highly inflammable, unlike the 'Safety 16mm'. With the single projector one had to change reels, usually eight to a film; this swift but unavoidable interval was always greeted with catcalls.
When showing Indian films to the coloured troops, there were usually twelve reels or more. Very tedious! To shorten the show, I tried cheating by missing out some reels at random but was caught out one night by an Indian officer who knew the film story - rapped knuckles for that one!
Those Indian films with their strange music always seemed to attract snakes; maybe it was just coincidence but so often after such a show there was a snake scare. One night during a show, I went back to the 15cwt to fetch something and there found a long snake inside the cab near the engine. Being a 'clever dick', I pulled out the Service revolver we carried (a Colt .38) and fired at it. Oh yes! I hit it after a couple of shots but in doing so smashed the carburettor and had to spend the night on location. Needless to say, I slept the night in the Unit's Sergeants Mess, not in the truck.
All during this period, the 14th Army was pushing the Japs back and going hell for leather towards Rangoon. It was during this time that I had a visit from the Director of Army Kinema, a Colonel, whom I had to drive around for a week or so, inspecting other mobile units in the area. He was a keen photographer and must have some wonderful shots to take home with him. I was not 'into' cameras in those days.
I next remember being in Mandalay when the Japs gave in and riding around with another sergeant, dressed only in my pyjamas.

After many happy days spent showing films, I was doing a spell in Meiktila again when I received a signal telling me to leave my outfit with another sergeant and proceed to Rangoon (which had fallen) by air, again in a RAF Dakota DC4. On arrival I reported to the AKS HQ and was told I was promoted to WO1 (Warrant Officer First Class). Surprise! Surprise! I just couldn鈥檛 believe it. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would become a 'dreaded' Sergeant Major and wear the famous 'Tate & Lyle鈥� (the Royal Coat of Arms) on my sleeve. I was in fact one of the youngest in the 14th Army.
I was put in charge, under an officer (a major), of the whole Kinema Section covering Burma and responsible for the routing and well being of some twenty units.
Rangoon was a mess - no constant electricity, no mains water but with our electrical knowledge, we soon overcame this at our Head Quarters, a large and imposing house that had once belonged to the 'match king' of Burma (a Burmese Bryant and May mogul).
We had Japanese POWs working for us now, repairing the house and roadways somehow they didn鈥檛 seem so fearsome now!
Of course, my travelling days were over and the job was almost desk bound with lots of administration. I bought a bicycle and explored Rangoon and its outskirts, going to the famous Shweddagon Pagoda with its great golden spires and many other places.

Eventually I was repatriated from Rangoon. On the appointed day we steamed up the Irrawaddy river in small launches with all our kit when suddenly she hove in sight of a very small single funnel ship of 12,000 tons, 'The Corfu', but at least this time I had a cabin and she was bound for 'Blighty'.
We were a very mixed bag aboard that ship, some old sweats from the regular peacetime army though most were like me, wartime soldiers. Although, as a Warrant Officer, I now enjoyed the afore-said cabin, I found that the old 'Regular' WO鈥檚 who knew the ropes, had ganged up against me already and I was doing Orderly WO every day and had to accompany the Orderly Officer on his rounds dealing with 'any complaints', but it was all experience.

The voyage home was back through the Suez Canal and as we neared home waters, in February, we were issued with battle dress and overcoats to keep us warm. Once again I was seasick and tried to overcome it by walking the heaving deck. As I struggled fore and aft a naval officer approached me and hearing of my bother said, 鈥淕o below, to your cabin - the steward will bring you some tea - and stay there, you will soon feel better.鈥� Sure enough, when I did so, things started to improve. When I asked the steward who the officer was, he said, 鈥淭hat was the Captain. He has been at sea for more than twenty years and still has to have a bucket on the bridge鈥�.
We arrived at Southampton early one morning to find it blanketed in snow, it turned out to be one of the coldest winters since the start of the war, no wonder we felt the cold.
As we approached Southampton Water, a message kept coming over the ship's tannoy warning us that anyone found with firearms or other lethal souvenirs would be placed under close arrest and court martialed. So as we slowly sailed on in the very early dawn, many were the splashes as guns, revolvers etc were quietly slipped over the side. No one was prepared to jeopardise their liberty at this hour.
Well, there was England after some four and a half years away and very good it looked too despite the weather.
Once again I was lumbered by the old sweats and given the task of escorting some 200 other ranks to London or as far as Waterloo Station where my duties ended.
Then it was home via Baker Street to a rapturous welcome from my parents. It was good to be home again and visit old friends and to start courting my girl friend (now my wife) with whom I had corresponded whilst overseas but not too seriously.
After four weeks leave it was back to the Army at Feltham, Middlesex, but only for a few weeks. I had to report to a nearby Demobilisation Depot on 28 April 1947, there to be issued with everything for Civvy Street; a complete outfit even to a tie. I chose a sports coat and flannel slacks instead of the familiar 'chalk stripe' demob suit. I purchased one suit of battle dress and my army greatcoat for 拢3.00 as I thought it might be handy for work. It was too.
Well, it was all over; apart from the scrapping with the Japs, I had enjoyed it very much - quite some experience at H.M Government鈥檚 expense and they even gave me the 'Burma Star' for services rendered.

Ken Rawlinson
January 1987

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