大象传媒

One of our Southern Counties Listeners sent in this story:

In June 1944, my age group was called to register for service in the Armed Forces. At last the boredom would cease and the rest of my life away from the restrictions of home would begin.

Every job i had taken since leaving school has been under sufferance until the great day when i became part of H.M Forces.

I was ordered to report for a medical at the recruiting station based at the Odd Fellows Hall, Queen Road Brighton.

All of us attending went with our different fears; mine was the sheer horror that i might fail and be deprived of my dream. Were my eyes alright? Was that a defect or just grit in the eye? Surly not for me the ignominy of answering the request to read the notice on the wall with "what wall, i must not miss my chance of freedom"

Why was i so nervous of failing the medical? Well, during my first five years of life i had suffered bad health. At two years old i had double pneumonia, at three a tubercular gland removed from my neck, and at four following a tonsil operation, developed septicaemia and was in hospital for sevarl months.

When i was finally discharged, it was with rumblings from the specialist of "this has possibly weakened the boys heart Mother, perhaps permanently". The gods smiled and the remainder of my childhood was normal, with no signs of the weak heart.

Before leaving for my medical my mother told me quite bluntly that it was all a waste of time. I would fail, adding " i remember what the doctor said." Thanks mum, thats cheered me up no end.

The great day dawned off and off i went. they weighed and measured us and then we stood in line waiting for the doctor. I was thrust into a cubicle and there was the enemy. An elderly, tired but friendly looking man. He asked me about any previous illnesses, i could have lied but i hadn't been brught up that way and told him the full story. "I'd better listen to your heart first, might save alot of time" said the doctor. Thud went his stethoscope onto my chest, no trouble with that one boy." Eyesight next- perfect- peed in a bottle, in my excitement had a job to hit the hole- again perfect. Then all those other bits and pieces including the cough. Those wonderful words " you've passed."

Next i was taken to a large room containing four tables, uniformed officers of the Army, Navy and Airforce sat behind three of them, at the fourth civilian. I did not know who he was but gave him a wide berth. Found out later he was recruiting for the local coal mines, Bevi Boys they called them. I would sooner face a bayonet than work all day under thousands of feet of creaking earth, stone and coal.

My first choice was the Navy, "Sorry, only taking regulars, sign for Seven and Five and you're in." No thanks hostilities only i answered. All the rest of my family were in the RAF, sheer bloody contrariness made me ignore this table they had got enough.
I turned to the third table, the army officer was smiling and beckoning, " Don't feel unwanted, we can do with smart lads like you, make a good infantryman, always short of them". Without another thought i accepted.

I was told i'd be sent immediatley after my eighteenth birthday and left the hall a happy young man.

When i told my mother i had passed A1, i am sure a fleeting look of disasppiotment passed over her face, perhaps i was wrong.

as my birthday approached i waited each morning for a buff envelope to thud through the door. Finally, in early January 1945 it did.

Report to Warely Barracks, Brentwood, Essex...what wonderful news, i was just eighteen and the rest of my life was about to begin.

The morning i left i eagerly walked up Margaret street Brighton, i stopped at a corner and waved goodbye to my mum. She was smiling but also looked apprehensive. Perhaps it's lifes' revenge seeing your youngest son off to war after boasting of white feathers you handed out in World war 1. I turned to the corner on St James streetand practically skipped all the way to Brighton station.
How Naive can you be, the following a huge sergeant stuck his red contorted face into mine and screamed " I am your mother now", s**t i thought, out of the frying pan into the fire...but i still preferred my new life.

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