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Rifleman Ken Kettle — Acting Unpaid L/Cpl — Cadet OCTU (Officer Training Unit) Commissioned 2/LT in The Queen’s Royal Regiment — UK Home Defences (May 1942). Sailed from UK, arrived in Egypt and joined the 8th Army on 15th August at the El Alamein Line.

During the summer of 1939 I registered for service at an Army depot and after war was declared on September 3rd, a Sunday morning (I was playing tennis), I was called up early October to join the Militia with orders to report to the Rifle Brigade at their barracks in Winchester along with 400/500 others, leaving by train from Victoria Station. On arrival, regular Army Sergeants took over and everything was conducted at a pace, bellowing “at the double”, shouting orders, demanding immediate actions. Then there was the Regimental Sergeant Major, a very powerful character, who regularly cracked jokes like “Am I hurting you boy? I’m standing on your hair! Barber today.” The odd officer would appear at about 11am daily and after a roll call and a brief inspection would inform the Sergeant he was off for the day, playing polo or other sports, part of the regular Army life, a war would be taken in their stride!

Our off duty activities were limited and sometimes just resting and joking but keeping a low profile, out of the RSM’s (Regimental Sergeant Major) way, avoiding fatigues, like coal for our billet stoves, spuds bashing in the cook house. The camaraderie eased some of the shear boredom and pain, and bear in mind our pay was only 10/- a week (50p) with 2/- deducted for the family services charity.

I must add some of my five army friends were still being paid a salary in Civy Street which enabled us to celebrate my 21st birthday on 28th November around a “Joanna” (piano), enjoying a supper of bread and cheese and pickled onions with a few well earned pints of draught beer, commencing in one of the 104 pubs in the area.

It was a great evening, never to be forgotten and very wisely we all made the signing in at the Guard Room in the nick of time. We were thankful for the “biscuits” (horse hair mattresses) on the dormitory floor and joining some 40 comrades still in their new khaki army shirts, as nightwear with some lucky ones sitting up in their beds before lights out, hopefully into peaceful oblivion! But there was more entertainment and fun to come.

One of the lads I travelled with found himself next to me in the dormitory made a brave decision to don his silk pyjamas, definitely a one off. Everybody else was happy in their new army issue pants so this caused an absolute uproar of laughter and shouts of “poofter”, “pansy”, etc, etc. I also had pyjamas with me, although made only of cotton and of a rather subdued pattern and colour, but I felt I had to support my friend which sure enough only added to the cat calls. Of course all this caused the duty Sergeant to appear and air his lungs! I like to think with that smile on his face, our courage did not go unnoticed.

We trained long and hard for three months around the area and then we were moved on according to our efficiency and standards achieved. I joined the Territorial Unit of the second London Rifle Brigade and toured the countryside, including training across Salisbury Plain, when during the bouts of snow “Long Army woollen pants were issued “for the winter use of” based of Tidworth. Then up to Uttoxeter racecourse (Staffs) where ice cold early morning showers were the order of the day. In November we moved down to Monmouth and slept under canvas, ten to a bell tent with all feet reaching the centre pole. Fortunately, in the early stages I was made up to a budding unpaid and acting Lance Corporal, which improved my life considerably and I soon found a number of very reliable friends.

Home leave for a period of seven or fourteen days was granted throughout the year although when visiting the London area we were often shaken by the bombing endured by all the residents within the city.

At the beginning of 1941 I was selected to attend an Officer Training Unit (OCTU) at Oswestry and on the 29th March I was gazetted and commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the Queen’s Royal Regiment. Following a brief two weeks, to get married! I reported to their Guildford barracks and after further training and drill under the RSM, in May was transferred to the 1/6th Btn stationed at Faversham. The Brigade was responsible for defence duties across Kent and along the coast.

The Commanding Officer was Lt. Col R.E. Pickering (later Brigadier) a real character. Famous, if not infamous, but he selected me to take over the Mortar Platoon, an excellent opportunity that saw me joining HQ Company at Syndale House, a mobile unit in Carriers, plus a motorcycle for my personal use.

My Btn 1/6th together with 1/5th - 1/7th formed the 131 Queen’s Brigade and became part of the 44th Division which sailed from Glasgow on 30th May 1942. We embarked on the “Strathallan”, a P and O vessel, arriving at Suez on 24th July, where upon we trained at Khatatba Camp (60 miles from Cairo.) On the 15th August the Division moved to the Alamein front, joining the 8th Army in the Desert.

(Potentially cross reference with other articles:
Battle of Alam El Halfa Ridge - Sept 28th/29th
Egypt 1942 - across the desert to Tripoli.)

This year 2005, being the 60th anniversary of WW2 will sadly bring to an end all further commorative celebrations. I will always recall the wonderful camaraderie, cheerfulness, spirit and bravery of all my Bermondsey based lads; remember we had the honour of being part of the 1/6th battalion of the Queen’s Royal regiment. There were many dedicated officers, personal friends and of course the troops who I had the privilege of serving with some of whom we left behind. All will be remembered.

‘When you go home
Tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow
We gave our today’

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