大象传媒

It was now 1949. Kaufman said to me "Can you get any sweets or chocolates from the canteen?" I said "I will see". So I spoke to the canteen Corporal and I was allowed to purchase a box of bars of chocolate. Kaufman was very pleased and I showed him what I had. Kaufman then said"Now we can bribe the German children for information"
We did receive some information relating to our work. It was about Wuppertall and our vehiclestopping that we were doing. One night we checked the Diamond T vehicles, they were a American towing lorry ring large. We found extra balance weights on one Number 6 and on another on Number 9 tyres and the wheels. When the convoy moved off the next morning, we were at the vehicle park when they pulled out. We knew that the drop would not be made on this trip out but on the return trip. We waited, our vehicle was parked off the road. We watched from a distance and two vehicles turned off, we let them all pass. Then we drove up the road to where the vehicles turned off. Was it right or left? We stopped and looked both ways and found that the two vehicles had stopped ahead of us and were now unloading. We raced down the road and caught them red handed. They were not able to run because our vehicle was across the front vehicle. They gave up and we had four drivers and six men. In the yard, we noticed a Diamond T Number 6, which had been stolen, also two other Army vehicles. Felix rang the Major and spoke to him. The Major wanted to speak to me and I said "You had better come and see what we have found" Felix told him where we were. He arrived, followed by the S I B and the Major sais "The S I B would be taken over, as there would be too much invetigation to do. I thought that this was a good start to 1949!
Paddy spoke to me that evening and asked me if we were going near Ramschild. I said "I could go that way" then he asked me "Will you take a parcel for my girlfriend, you know which house she lives in". So off we went to Ramschild.
We had been out, the best part of the night, along the outside of the vehicle park. We caught two Germans, that were loading tyres and they were arrested. The Police and ourselves returned to the cook house, here a German, that was on duty cooked some food for the men. The german Police loved to work with us, because they had English cigarettes and a good feed. When we had finished, it was now off to bed.
It was the usual Saturday evening at the Cafe Belton. I had been drinking with Johnny, Gertrude, Paddy and Jock. At the next table was two German men, and they were drunk. They were shouting their mouths off and one of them called me a Polish Bastard. I then went for him and told him that I had ben a Prisoner-of-War in Poland and how the way that I was treated. It nearly came to a punch up. The dancing stopped and Captain Stoodley came over to where I was and the German was escorted out of the place. Captain Stoodley spoke to me and said "Corporal, I think that you should return to the camp" I agreed with him,and was taken back to the camp and put to bed.
Sunday, I woke up with a very bad head but I had recalled the night before. On the Monday, I apologised to Captain Stoodley and he replied " I understand".
A new C S M by the name of Smith arrived at the camp, but he always appeared to me to be drunk. I did notice that part of it had been put on, so I gave the lads a warning about him. I was not sure but I had seen it all before and told them to wait and see if I was right.
On another Saturday night, it was the same five drinking at the Cafe Belton. Paddy turned to me and said"Are you a Red Cap?" I replied "Don't make me laugh, S I B?". I could have kicked his teeth in. But he said "Sorry" I told him that I had been a Prisoner-of-War and I joined the R A O C at Colchester and arrived there in 1949 with Jock Muir. He and Jock then told me, that they were fighting in Belgium at rest camp and had been given a pass, but when they had returned, they found that their Unit had moved up the line. The M.P.s arrested them a week later, they they were reunited with their Unit. But they were put on a charge, lost all time served a punishment. That was why, they kept their distances. After talking to them, we became good pals after that.
We were out on the way to the Autobahn and had stopped on the way, Captain Stoodley pulled up in a car and said to me "Corporal, come with me" He told Private Muir to return to the camp and that we would meet up later. I drove off with the Captain, then we approached a parked car. I saw three civilians sitting in the car. "We are here" said the Captain "These are S I B Officers and they heard that Kaufman has some Uranium!" I replied to that " You are talking through the back of your hat, if this was so, I would know". I do know that he can obtain most things but not that IT WOULD BE TOO HOT TO HANDLE!
Captain Stoodley then drove back to 145 vehicle park. Everything was going quite well until the S I B moved in, asking questions. My Unit was interviewed but we knew nothing. Then came the question about Captain Adlington and his wife plus a senior N C O Hart. Adlingon and Hart was arrested by the S I B. One week later, I was informed that I was to be posted to OLdenberg. Felix went to see the Major and he in turn,tried to stop the posting. But was informed on B O A R order of the Rhine Headquarters. A week later, with all of my kit packed, I was on my way.
On arriving at Oldenberg, I reported to the orderely room. At the Chief officers desk, sat a civilian nd I said to him "I have been told to report to this Office". He looked up and said "When you speak to me, you call me Sir". I replied " I never call a Nazi bastard Sir". A shout from a Captain "Who are you calling a Nazi?" I replied "This civilian, you can smell a Nazi,in fact, your typing pool are all Nazis". I was then taken into his office and he asked me my name I replied "Beesley, I was a Prisoner-of-War for 5 years, so do not tell me that he is not a Nazi". He never replied to that. There wasa knock on the door and a Corporal stood there. He was told to take me to my quarters.
When we reached the building, this Corporal had said that his name was Corporal Fred Steram. he also warned me to be very careful, as a Security N C O was being posted to the Barracks. I just smiled at him. They were all one rooms, so you were on your own. Oldenberg camp had been a german Air Force Base, it had a good beer canteen. Fred told me that a Sergeant Major had had an accident, some weeks before, He was riding a motor cycle and also had been drinking. he had run into the Barrayer across the main entrance.
I went to the canteen that evening, with Fed. He introduced me to other N C O's and we had a good night uuntil 10.00 p.m. where then we to our beds and had a good nights sleep.

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