大象传媒

The New year had arrived and it was now 1950. Most of the lads had bad heads after celebrating the new year. Some were on sick parade but what they needed was a dose of Black Jack, to open their bowels. This would get shot of all the rubbish that they had drunk. Still, it was not a bad day but it was very cold.
I had received a letter from Johnny Kilmartin and Gertrude. They had now married and were both very happy. But Johnny was still drinking more than his fair share. I thought to myself, that he will regret this way of life before too long and that he would drink himself into an early grave.
I was shown a newspaer, that an Officer had purchased. He also had a German camera, which he had taken apart and then he sent each part, to his wife in England. So when he returned home to England, he would then put the camera together again. It was his birthday and he had received a a parcel from home, but when he opened it up, he found the camera, which he had sent home. His wife had sent it back to him, all together. I wonder what he called his wife for doing this!
It was now Thursday and it was "House" night, which was Bingo. All of the married families turned up for this as here was the chance to win a kitty of cash. But never, was I told, that any of the lads ever won, so we thought that it must have been a fiddle!
Whenever C S M Foster turned up for P T Traing, he has all of the name of the men of who was present, and any that was found to be missing will be put on a charge. Whenever that happened, there is always sick parade. I does not matter what the Medical Officer said, none of these men or N C O's can win, unless they are sent to hospital. Then it was one or two extra days duty.
Some nights, you would have these bad dreams. You would be dreaming of the War places, that you could not remember, the killing and seeing of men that had been blown to pieces. You would dream that you had been over-run, then there would be a gun pointed at you. Then you would wake up in a cold sweat and shouting. These dreams were very weird and they appeared on and off. I thought that I still must have had a screw loose.
I reported sick and I explained all of this to the Doctor. he said that it was nerves so he gave me seven tablets to take, that was one each night, before I went to bed.
I was returning to my billet, one lunchtime and I found my locker had been broken into, so I reported this but there was nothing missing.
I received a letter from Jock Muir, he did not like Munchengladbach, he said that there were too many M.P.'s.
Jack Ervin had rejoined the Army and he was on leave, but he was going to China and Singapore after his leave.I also had a letter from Bert Marable and he had rejoined after a spell in civilian street. He had lost his wife and he was now with the Wiltshire regiment in the Midlle east.He was a Prisoner-of-War with me in Poland but I could not undersatnd why he had joined up again. When I wrote and told him that I was stopping in the Army, he had replied to me "Not on your life". But I think that it was because he had lost his wife .
I had received a letter from home. My sister had had a baby boy. My Father was sick with Malaria. He had attacks of this now and then, poor sod, but he had to take a week off work when he was suffering with this. I will now have to write back to my family.
It was now getting a little warmer outside but I would be glad when it was Spring, maybe then we could go camping.
Fred is on guard duty at the show at the P T Hall, better to have a evening watching the show than be on duty. There were three blokes dressed as women, they were dancing and singing songs. They were also telling dirty jokes, how they dreamed them up I do not know. There was also children dancing and singing in English, but they were Germans. When the show ended, we went for a drink and I thought that I would have a early night.
The next morning was raining, and not a very good day at all. I hope that it will brighten up later.After lunch I had received a letter from my friend, Felix, who was at 145 Vehicle park with me. I was wondering how he was keeping.
This is a copy of his letter to me. It was dated 25 January 1950.

-------------------------------------------- 25.1.1950

My Dear Bob

Many thanks for your letter from 9.January. I could not answer your letter before because I had so much to do.
In the meantime there happened many things. I will start.

Since 11.1.1950 I am not more with 145 Jn.Veh.Coy. It was how I said before. It was nothing then a dirthy trick.I told you before I will not work with anybody else.
An d thiy my word I kept. When I was offered to work, my question was : What is with Cpl Beesley? And I was told nothing. Alright I said We have been verry good friends and I promised him not to work with anybody else and I will keep my promise. I went home and told them I will think about it. And They heared nothing from me. When they think that I am working with Smith, then They had it.

You have written in your last letter a sentence and I fully agree with it. I will not be insolent and therefore I can not repeat it.

But when you are here I will talk to you about it. In the mean time I have spoken with Mayor Henry about all. You know what he said to me. "Felix I am verry sorry you must have a bad impression about the English peoples". I said Yes said is quite right. And he said "Felix I understand you". Anyway on the 11.1.1950 I received a letter from Stoodley who informed me, that w.e.f. 11.1.1950 I am not more employed with 145 because I refused to come to duty.Allright. F.it.

Yesterday I came back from Hannover. Well Bob I would like that you would have seen this theatre. The General Court Martial Cptn. Adlington and W O 1 Hardt.

Hardt was stripped to a Corporel. And when I went the case against Gunner was yust starting.
I do not know how he came away.
But wilst I was waiting there for the Court Room I was talking to Henry, Hurdle, ganson.
Present was also Stoodley, Garrisch, Smith, Thomas Hess and 15 other witnesses. But only the Schwenz-feger case was heared.

A yudge from England was president and a full Colonel and Leftn.Collonel, Members were 2 Mayors and 2 Captains. Prosecuter was a Captain from the ware office. Deffense Counsel for Gunner wasa young civilian loyer in my age from England.
Everrybody took it verry serious-without me. Leftn.Wills was there as well.

Henry offered me a yob.Hurdle was friendly and you can believe me that was the chance of my life I told them the really truth. Hurdle was alwys white and red in the face dappened only. I said. I Told Hurdle wordly "if Cpl. Beesley and myself would have been such b...... then he would sit there as an accused man. He went white. he asked me what do you know. I said. Everrythink. He wanted to know what. I only said "lokk I am now a civilian but I remember you only Chikkenfarm , I.G.Leverkusen, Volkswagen-Tyres and wine yourneys.

I told them all. They shall remember how much money Cpl. Beesley and myself safed your Country. How many tyres we brought back to the unit, how many tyre.-thieves we put into clink and howmany hundreds we stopped from stealing alone for beeing there.,because we have been so well known and hated. And I that what the thank??
My friend was posted and I got offered to work with somebody else. For what. I know it. Cpl. Beesley knows to much. that is the reason. You should have heared me. I said wordly I am fed up with all they can pinch waht they like. I noticed that Hurdle went away with Ganson and reproached him why he let us go. They have been in a verry serious diskussion.Both were lokking serious. I think they are sorry that we are awy. On the other side i have the opinion that Ganson got the order from some higher authority. I donot know.

When you are here I tell you more.
Sigrid was sacked on the 31.12.1949. We found some letters which gave us proof,that she was still going with Ortlinghaus. Therefore my wife told he f.o.

Since yesterday we got a new young housemaid from north Germany a refugee from the Danzig area.
My wife ist quite allright and she speaks often about you. And the kitty she never will forget uncle Bob. Sometimes she only sais "dady is uncle Bob not more coming? and then I am telling her some nonsens.

Well old friend, that was for today the newest and I have got some more work todo. Therfore I will finish this letter.

Keep yourself well and all the verry best.
With the best regards I am always your friend.

Felix

--------------------------------------------
I wish I could have attended the hearing. C S M Hart had blamed me for is arrest but I had not said one word to any one about what was going on the B...t..Smith. I had a feeling about him that he was a SH..House. I bet that Major Hurley felt very uncomfortable when Felix had opened his mouth. Captain Stoodley was another one that you had to watch, he was not all that he made himself to be. Still I am away from all that and I hope that the S I B does not come knocking on my door for information, because they will not get any!
It was in May 1950 on a Wednesday, as the N C O and men came out of the dining hall. We were told to muster at the P T Hall, as the Army Chaplain would be taking a Church Meeting. Together, with the men, it was a nice warm day and the Meeting was to be held outside on the grass. The Chaplain told the men to sit down on the grass. He was Church of England faith. The Jews that had come as well, asked if they could be dismissed beause of the Jewish Faith. The reply was "NO" Then the Catholic faith asked if they also could be dismissed. Again the reply was "NO". The Chaplain had said that this meeting was for all faiths. He was a short, thick set man with a red face, he must have loved a pint!. He started to speak, he even used bad swear words in the book. We were all taken aback, then he said"This is a form of expression. It is no good speaking the Kings English, because no-one took any notice, but put a few F's or B's or C's into your speech, then people would listen and understand you. Never pussy foot around, start as you mean to go on and finish, then they understand you." But one of the lads said "But those words are not in the Bible". But the Chaplain replied "God will understand. Another lad said"If I was to use words like that to a Drill Squad, I would be reported". The Chaplain laughed.
At the end of the afternoon he said"I hope that you understand expressions now".
I will never forget that Meeting or the Chaplain. For a long time, the men spoke about this Meeting, always with a laugh.
It was now Saturday, so Fred and I went into Town. In the canteen, we sat on a table for 6 people, a a little later, 4 W R A C Women sat at our table. Fred spoke to them and asked hem "Have you travelled far" The reply was "No. We are stationed outside of the Town". Fred got nosy and asked "What are your names?" They replied "Mary Longshore,from Wales, Nelle Wallace from Scotland and Joan and Joyce". Fred got up to go and get some more tea and cakes for us all. We chatted to Mary and she said " I will soon be demobbed" We asked "Are you looking forward to that?" She replied "No, but a change is as good as a rest. She asked me "How much longer?" I replied "About a year" She then said "As you are leaving the Army, will you drop me a line?". "OK, give me your address". She said "Which one, my home address?"I said "Yes and I will drop you a line". At about 6.00 p.m. the four girls said that they had a date and they then left the canteen.
It was June 1950, when I was informed to report to the Orderley Room. I was informed that I was being posted back to England, within the next 10 days. When I told Fred that I was being posted to England, he replied "Lucky Bugger".I said "Why am I lucky, you are going home. Don't be daft" He said that he also had about one year to do.
Later, I learnt that Private J Lee, Freeman, P Hitchcock and C Stevans were all being posted home to England. On the Friday night, those bad dreams gave me a bad nights sleep. Fred came in to have a look at me, he said " Have you had a rough night?." I had a walk and then I went to see about some breakfast. On our return, Fred said "Are you going into Town tonight?" I replied" I will see how I feel, I do not feel so good". Fred then said "Why don't you go to the Medical Room" But I said "I will be OK". I had a sleep that afternoon, then a shower. After that I felt a lot better in myself, so Fred and I went down to the Town. We had a walk around and ended up in the Canteen. Fred said "When are you off to Blighty?" I said "I do not know, maybe it will be next week". On the Sunday, I spent sorting out my kit and for a while, I thought about how weird these dreams of mine were. I had never machine gunned anyone, yet Friday night, I was doing just that, it was very, very funny!.
Saturday and Sunday was quiet, I checked my kit and then spent the time writing letters. Fred was on duty on the Vehicle park, he was on for 24 hours. I took a walk to his duty post and took him a few bottles of beer for him and the lads. In fact, I was breaking the rules. I decided to have an early night, but now my mind began to wander. Where were we off to next week?
When we arrived back in England, I fell asleep, but I had ahd a good nights sleep for a change.
Awaking the next morning, to the call of "Rise and shine". I got out of bed, wwashed and shaved. Then went to have my breakfast and then parade. Then I was off to my place of duty, the wooden hut, but not for much longer. After lunch, I was told to report to the Orderely Room at 2.00 p.m. I was then told by the duty N C O, that at 9.30 a.m. on the Tuesday morning that I had to report to the Ordereley office, with my kit packed and ready, to leave the barracks. I was being posted to Bicester, B O D, what the hell that meant, I had no idea. There would also be anothe 4 privates that would be going with me as well, as they also were being posted. So I spent the remainder of that day packing my kit ready for Tuesday departure.
Tuesday, I was up bright and early. My kit was all packed ready for the trip. Had my breakfast and then said goodbye to my mates. I had met Fred and I was a little upset at leaving my friend, but he smiled at me. They all wished me the Best of Luck and told me not to forget to write to them.
I arrived at the Orderely room at 9.30 a.m.I received my travel documents and also the documents for my new posting. Also waiting was the 4 Privates, we were then ready to move off. The transport was waiting and then we were on our way. We boarded the troop train, which stopped at various points on the route, to pick up other servicemen and women. Some was going on leave and others were being posted.
I arrived at the Hook of Holland, change camp money for English cash. I reported to the Duty Office, they checked all of my travel documents, then I boarded the ship for England.
I arrived at Harwich the next morning, a Wednesday. There was a document check and then through Customs. The Custom office asked if I had anything to declare, I told them I did not. They then asked me if I was sure. I told them that if they did not believe me then they could search me. They then said that they could search my kit and I told them to go ahead that they would not find anything in there that should not be there. They then told me to go. I boarded the train and it arrived in London. I then went across London by the Tube train to Waterloo Station. Then on to Bicester in Oxfordshire. I arrived at Bicester in the late afternoon. there was transport waiting. By this time, I had learnt the names of my fellow passengers, there was Freeman, Hitchcock, Stevans and Lee. I noticed other service N C O's and men arriving at the station. We all boarded the same vehicle and we arrived at the camp .
I noticed Nissen Huts and then I reported to the Orderely Room and once the documents were handed over, a N C O said "Follow me" which we did. We were taken to these Nissen huts. Two of the privates that travelled with me went into one of the huts together, then another two were taken to another hut. Next door, others had arrived, they introduced themselves to us, we then unpacked our kit then had tea. We all stopped in the hut that evening and we talked about the camp. One person
said"Why did you come to this dump?" I replied "I was posted from Germany to here".
We all decided to call it a night so we went to our beds at 10.30 p.m. and we were all soon asleep. But I was thinking about my friend, Fred, who I had left behind in Germany. I really missed him, he was a good mate to me.

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