大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Dianne Burtrand of Chelmsford Library on behalf of Frederick N.Snowden and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

The War Years of Frederick Norman Snowden

Prologue

My grandfather Fred had been a Farrier Sergeant with the Hallamshire Yeomanry Royal Artillery in the early 1900鈥檚. My father Fred served with the Essex Regiment as a sergeant in the First World War. So when I was 14 years old there was no hesitation in joining the Grimsby Municipal College Officer鈥檚 Training Corps, in 1935. Uniforms, parades, drill and summer camps led up to the Infantry Syllabus of Examination, Certificate A in March 1937. This made one eligible for consideration for an army commission. Eventually I reached the top possible rank of sergeant major.

Still a civilian

My course at Sheffield City Training College was postponed as the building was a possible military hospital. So in September 1939, aged 18 years, I volunteered for the army at Nottingham. O.T.C. experience helped as I was able to choose the Royal Artillery. After medical examination and receipt of the King鈥檚 shilling, I was told that I was young, to complete my college course and then join up. I started that in November 1939. In spring 1940 the threat of German invasion of Lincolnshire was real so in the Easter and summer holidays I joined the Local Defence Volunteers, later to become the Home Guard. With school training and the fact that I had a Luger automatic pistol (Dad鈥檚 from the First War) I was promoted to sergeant. After over 20 years the ammunition must have been doubtful!
The first experience of total war was to be in Sheffield for the Blitz in December 1940, horror and noise, taking wounded to the hospital on ripped off doors. The destruction seen the next day defies description. Home for a couple of months for repairs to College.
My father was a War Reserve Policeman. On night duty at the local waterworks he slipped on ice and injured his back. That led to paralysis from the waist down and death aged 51 years on the 2nd June 1941.

Into the Army

The college course completed successfully, I was ordered to report to the 12th Field Training Regiment Royal Artillery at Gordon Barracks, Bulford, Wiltshire, on the A303 about 10 miles north of Salisbury.
There I was with a group of about 30 of much the same age from public and grammar schools, all having trained with the O.T.C. Kitted out with prickly battledress, thick shirts and heavy boots we soon learned to polish, press and colour the webbing equipment. More medical examinations and innoculations made sure that we were fit enough. Six weeks of parade ground marching, gun drill with First War 18 pounder guns such as those used in the Royal Tournament, were sufficient for passing out parade and the first home leave.
On return we were given a Lance Bombardier stripe (unpaid) and set to training conscripts aged 30-40 years. That was when I started to grow a moustache to make me appear older!
I was 21 years old in a train under the River Severn on the 3rd April 1942 when the Training Regiment was moved to Aberystwyth, arriving on a wet Sunday in Wales with no pubs open to celebrate. We were billeted in empty boarding houses, drilling on the promenade in something of a holiday atmosphere while being admired by seaside visitors. Sun and sea bathing made the war seem far away. A women鈥檚 P.E. college had been evacuated there, plus the University students meant that there were many partners for the evening and weekend dances. Patent leather shoes had to be exchanged for the army boots with studs.

Officer Training

The good times could not last. 14th August 1942 I reported to 123rd Officer Cadet Training Unit Royal Artillery, Catterick Camp, North Yorkshire on the A1. Here discipline was severe, training more complicated, stress on leadership and decision making, but again, with those of similar background there was great comradeship. The constant dread was to see names go on to the notice board with the awful letters R.T.U (Returned to Unit) of failure. Battle course in the Lake District under live bullets, and a week鈥檚 firing on ranges at Trawsfyndd, central Wales, completed our course. On the way back on the train at midnight we were able to take off our common forage cap and put on the Officer鈥檚 hat. We had made it as subalterns!
Arriving in Alfreton on leave I was walking down Institute Lane to Hall Street when I received my first salute. There my Service Dress uniform was waiting and the transformation was complete.

Active Service Begins

This is a good place to explain the role of artillery in support of infantry and repulse of attack. The 25 pounder gun could fire a 4inch diameter shell 18inches long weighing 25lb(11Kg) for up to seven miles.So those manning the gun could not see the target. An Observation Post Officer forward with the infantry having seen a trial shot would say:-鈥淯p a bit, down a bit, left a bit, right a bit鈥� expressed in more technical language until satisfied. The main unit of a battery had two troops of four guns commanded by a major, three captains and six lieutenants.
My work was in the Command Post concerned with accurate survey of the gun positions using compass, theodolite and maps so that calculated fire could be made for barrages or selected targets. To do this many factors had to be allowed for:- distance gun to target, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, air and missile temperature, differences in height, variations in the propellant and age and wear of the gun. Not easy under pressure in a tent, hole in the ground, or back of a truck, at night with only an oil lamp, a slide rule and books of tables.
Each gun had a crew of six men with a sergeant in charge. A four wheel drive truck, with seating, pulled a trailer of ammunition with the gun towed behind
On 30th January 1943 the cadet became Second Lieutenant Snowden.
After leave I was posted to 318 Battery, 80th Field Regiment Royal Artillery based at Forres, Morayshire, Scotland. Three Batteries make up a Regiment with a Colonel in command of 24 guns. This was part of the 52ndDivision mainly raised from Territorial Army units from around Glasgow, bringing dialect and language problems. There I discovered that we were part of division training for mountain warfare. Being born and bred in flat NE Lincolnshire I did not feel an ideal choice, but such are the ways of the army. I developed a taste for whisky and Scottish reels.
Not much secrecy was made of the fact that we were preparing for a possible invasion of Norway, having Norwegian units and liaison officers with us. Whenever snow fell the Division would camp on it, learning to ski and use snowshoes, make igloos and build a snow shelter to avoid frost bite when answering the calls of nature. Special ski clothing was issued, smocks and white, camouflage which were worn when appropriate. The Regiment moved to Montrose, Angus.
Once Normandy was chosen for the D Day landings it became obvious that all the years of mountain training had been a successful hoax by keeping considerable forces contained in Norway.
All of that was put behind us as training began to be an Air Portable Division used in support of airborne forces. Surplus equipment was discarded, dummy fuselages of Dakota aircraft were built to practice loading and unloading, the guns had to be dismantled and manhandled into place, real jeeps were the only transport suitable, even for the heavy guns. Our purpose was to follow an air drop the next day. On the ground in Europe the military advance succeeded in finding intact bridges so several times of standby were cancelled until Arnheim.
Fierce opposition meant that nearby Deelen Airfield was not captured and fog in Britain caused delays so the operation was cancelled nine hours before takeoff.
Another disappointment, more training wasted. Now the experience of high in the mountains and high in the air had to be disregarded as the division prepared to fight on the flat, in fact below sea level.

Into Europe at last

In early October we crossed the channel from Portsmouth. We spent three days at sea awaiting our turn to land. On an American landing ship we enjoyed American rations.
I had sweetcorn for the first time and was unaffected by the motion. Landing at Arromanches near Le Havre we travelled through Lisieux, Beauvais, Amiens and Douai, in France then on to Billets north of Brussels.
By that time France, Belgium and most of Holland had been cleared but supplies still had to travel long distances. The nearby port of Antwerp was essential but the Germans continued to hold the north-east side of the Scheldt estuary.
Our task was to take Welcheren Island. Commandos and infantry attacked by sea. Artillery and support troops went overland from Bergen-Op-Zoom along South Beveland. Flooding of the centre meant that the only routes were on the dyke tops, booby trapped with mines until Flushing and Middleburg were captured. The cold was so miserable that I was glad to put on long johns for the first time. In winter holding the line at Tilburg and s鈥橦ertogenbosch. In very cold weather to Geilencirchen alongside the US 9th Army. Into Germany for the first time. There for the Ardennes offensive when the Germans tried to recapture Antwerp. Round the end of the Siegfried Line to clear the enemy from West Holland. !00,000 round of 25pdr.ammunition in barrages which is about 1300 rounds per gun. Apalling destruction from bombing and artillery fire. Cellars were often intact and stocked with bottled fruits and wines which were liberated!

Over The Rhine

February onwards, a push to the lower Rhein through the Reichswald Forest to Xanten and Wesel. Along the West Bank by mid-March. I saw Churchill, Montgomery and Eisenhower together. Immense bombardment planned for artillery and R.A.F. bombers. On 24th March at 10.00 hours the air armada of carriers and gliders flew over at 500 feet. During the night before and in the morning we fired for 15陆hours. A bridgehead over the Rhine was achieved. The next obstacle was the Dortmund-Ems canal. 1st April, all bridges blown, crossing by boat until a Bailey bridge was built. My 24th birthday.
Resistance all the way to the River Weser, reaching Hoya and Verden 13th April. Continued over the River Aller towards the River Elbe via Soltau. Then back to Bremen 20th. April.
R.A.F. bombing of Focke Wulf aircraft factory and submarine yards. Barrages to capture the city and docks 25th. April. The central area 4 miles long and 1 mile wide was obliterated. I could not feel guilt after being in Sheffield when bombed. 318 Battery bypassed the city to the north to prevent counter attacks.
There on the 5th. May the message was passed 鈥� Cease Fire 鈥�. Cautiously we came out of our fox holes, trying to realise that the war in Europe was over. Just in case, all units stayed on alert for several days more. We had none of the celebrations for peace time that took place in world capitals.

Military Government

War was fine, peace was hell! An edict was sent out that the Army revert to regulation standards. Most vehicles had wooden roof racks holding mattresses, cooking pots, furniture and suitcases 鈥榓cquired鈥� on their travels. All of that had to go. Unofficial dress of scarves, long jumpers and assorted footwear had to be discarded. Paint was issued, brass was polished, uniform was cleaned, gun drill and marching drill was introduced, formal dinner with the Colonel instead of queuing after the men with mess tins. Our division was pulled back to Ghent ready for the Air Portable role again. There was trouble in Syria over oil wells. Compassionate leave for our wedding was delayed, on and off three times causing much anguish for Jean. Planned for the 11th June; postponed to 16th; postponed again to 19th; married at last!

After the honeymoon back to Germany for Military Government, on the River Elbe, Magdeburg to Stendal. Each officer was given a small town or village to administer, controlling food supplies, destroying small bore rifles and administering justice. Concentration camps and slave labour compounds needed careful attention. The local Germans were full of concern when it became known that their area would be in the Russian zone.
Demobilisation was in the air. All those who were younger and of short service were withdrawn for a Brigade to go to America to train for an assault on Japan. Fortunately for us the atom bombs brought the real end to the war. It would have been nice to go to America and then have peace declared. Another case of what might have been.
Instead we were transferred to 101 Battery, 33rd Field Regiment, R.A. to replace men sent home. Travel by train across France to Toulon, troop ship to Alexandria, Cairo in November. Camps at Ismalia, El Quassasim, Bitter Lakes on the Suez Canal and Geneifa. I was able to visit Cairo and the Pyramids. Then to Palestine, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Caesarea and Haifa on police duties trying to keep Arabs and Jews apart with both sides throwing bombs at us. The highlight was being in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.
On Boxing Day 1945 I received notice of release from the Army. Teachers were needed back in Britain. Once again a Mediterranean cruise to Toulon, across France by train, then the Woolwich Arsenal Depot. After leave and a second honeymoon my release became operative on 14th February 1946. After four and a half years in the wartime army, I missed the comradeship and adventure. As a civilian with a demob. suit, hat and raincoat I found myself teaching in a Grimsby dockland school.
I had a wife, a career and a future. I had survived.

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