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This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Edward Horgan and has been added to the site with his permission. He fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

"This covers the period from when I joined the Air Training Corps and my experience from 1941 onwards.

This period was when all of the nation was involving themselves in the war effort and I, being the age of 14 years, was at that period of life when you were neither a child or an adult and felt that I had to do something more substantial. Prior to this period, in 1939 I was a messenger for the A.R.P.

To keep teenagers occupied, City Councils established youth groups in the schools where one could gather 3 nights a week for a modest annual subscription. From this one could receive instructions in various activities. It was at one of the meetings that I was introduced to a friend, who introduced me to the activities of the Air Training Corps. From this I joined 1081 Squadron Manchester. This opened a whole new world to me as I learnt many things that involved the world of aviation, which kindled my enthusiasm for flying at that time. I then introduced my school friend, he also joined and along with our original friend we became a very close group and through our association decided that when we became of age to volunteer (17 years and three months) we would all enroll together (shades of the Pals Battalions WW1).

When that time arrived we trooped off to the recruiting hut which was situated in Piccadilly Gardens and were duly signed up. Eventually the date for us to attend for medical came and we arrived at the famous Dover Street Manchester. I was taken through all the aspects of examination and then was taken into a small room where a doctor told me that I couldn't be accepted as my grade was 4 (it was the joke at that time that when the Germans invaded anybody with this grade would be the first to be evacuated)due to me having heart trouble. As you can imagine, I came out of the building absolutely shattered; my two friends passed with flying colours.

When the father of one of my friends found out what we had done, you could say that, in today's language, he went ballistic and on hindsight I can quite see his point. As a 17 year old he had lost an arm in world War 1 which to me didn't mean a thing, as I, along with many other people of my age, was used to seeing amputees as the accepted norm.

Then came the natinal call-up which happened at the age of 17 years and nine months, regardless of whether one had volunteered. Yes I had to report to the same medical centre. Various questions were asked as to your general health and if you had had a previous medical. I gave the information about my attending some six months previously, and having a surname that is of Irish derivation always and even today somewhere along the line it gets transposed to one of Welsh so no trace could be found and I was suspected of trying to dodge the draft. However I was able to give details of the two friends that I had joined with, these were found and also my original medical. From this I was given further investigation and arrangements were made to see a specialist consultant who gave me the all clear. Now as I had volunteered in the first place, I had my choice of which armed service I wanted to go in, so I again applied for the R.A.F. Air Crew.

Eventually I was directed to report to the Doncaster Co-Op (this building had been taken over by the military for the duration). Here gathered a large number of applicants for the selection. We were given various academic tests, which lasted for three days, finishing with a final interview in front of a panel of R.A.F. officers. Needless to say I failed along with 99% of the intake, as this was towards the later days of the war, when the demand for air crew was being phased out, and I recollect that the R.A.F. had a potential of a back-up of six air crews to every plane. From this I was directed to the army and I received the biggest shock, I always assumed that everybody was literate, not so.

As to my two other friends, one served as ground staff, the other passed for pilot training and was issued with a number and ws on the reserve list from 1944 - 1953, finally getting discharged without ever donning a uniform.

As for me, I served king and country until demobilization in 1948. People often ask was the tiem spent worth it, all I can say is yes because I met some very interesting national servicemen who had been recruited into the forces after they had done their time at university, who voluntarily gave talks on various subjects, which I and possibly many others found very educational.

The only conclusion the authorities could come up with for the failed medical was that the paperwork had got crossed. How many more?"

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