大象传媒

This contribution to WW2 People鈥檚 War was received by the Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk. The story has been written and submitted to the website by Rosalie Davis Gibb (Volunteer Story Gatherer) with the full permission and on behalf of Geoffrey Bellward Ransome

I joined the Army at Nelson Barracks, Norwich in 1942 and served in the Royal Norfolks from 15.5.42 to 20.10.43, the Northants from 21.10.43 to 3.1.44 and the Royal Signals from 4.1.44 to 3.10.47.

I wrote many letters to my dad and stepmother, a few of which have survived. When my dad retired from his job at Clacton railway station in 1946 the family moved to Norwich whilst I was stationed at Trieste. It normally took about a week for letters from home to reach me. I also received letters from my only brother, Russell, who was in the RAF. I also kept a diary and have taken extracts from it for this story.

On Good Friday, 13th April, 1943 I heard that I鈥檇 been drafted for overseas service with about 200 others from the 70th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. We sailed on the 13th of May.

My first sight of Scotland was delightful, the greens, greys, browns and purples of the mountains under the early sun were extremely beautiful. The little towns on the side of the Firth of Clyde stood out amazingly in the clear air. I saw my first submarine when we were anchored between Rothesay and Gourock. A hot salt water shower was very welcome after sleeping in my clothes.

I hoped I would be able to return and enjoy these very pleasant scenes, having fought for them. I knew all men in their hearts must hate war but their normal decent instincts were submerged when in the hands of a Dictator.

We all got a bit fed up hanging about. We sailed down the Clyde with over a dozen other troopships. The next day there were 31 ships in the convoy including a cruiser, an aircraft carrier and other warships. The sea was a grand sight, with the ships dipping in their heads and scooping water over the foredecks. By the time we sighted Africa there were only 17 ships left. I saw my first flying fish. The sunset was unforgettable. We landed at Algiers 17 days after leaving Liverpool. We marched for about 10 miles in broiling sun to our camp, a canvas one in the country within a mile of the sea.

I hoped to have 19 days鈥� leave under a new scheme that was announced in the summer of 1946. A huge number would have been eligible for leave by requiring them to have only 6 weeks to serve on their return. Most were 鈥渄eferred, operationally vital鈥�, for leave, repatriation and release, so not many got to go, just on appeal on compassionate grounds. We had an acute shortage of specialists. As a Sergeant I was among the first half dozen in seniority. I met 2 chaps I knew from the Norfolks who gave me news of many I had known who were lying in numerous military cemeteries. I could have been one of them had I not been sent on a cipher course.

One consolation of spud bashing for missing parade one morning was plenty of grub in the cookhouse!

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