大象传媒

In 1939, I went for a medical to join the forces. I joined the militia and had six months training. War had been declared, and I remember going to Preston for a medical. There were about six doctors there. You needed an A1 to pass, but I got a Grade 2. They would not let me join the Royal Air Force because of the Grade 2, so I went for a medical for the Army, and got an A1 pass. I knew someone who joined the Navy, and he wanted to be a seaman, but his eyes were bad, so he had to be a cook. This showed that the Navy had a grading system.

Most people back home worked in ammunition, and lots including women went to work at the Royal Ordnance factory, at Blackamoor in Blackburn. Industrial work was mostly done by women. Bus Drivers, and work on the land.

There were ration books and prices for things like cheese.

I remember taking my girlfriend (later his wife), to the Savoy Cinema. We got reserved seats. There was also the Albert Hall Cinema, and the Theatre Royal. During this time, most of the films were cowboys, and were a waste of money. One of the cowboy actors was Tom Mitchman, and there was also John Wayne.

I went away in 1942, and didn鈥檛 see her again until 1945. I wanted to get married in 1939 because married couples got more money than single men. I married my girlfriend on the 24th August 1946. We put money away to buy a house. Sadly, she died two years ago in Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

I used to play cricket in the local Sunday School League. There were between ten to twelve churches of different religions playing. I recall going down to Darwen in 1939 to play cricket. I got in the first team the year before the war started.

You could buy three cigarettes for one penny.

During the war, I was posted to Burma, and it was hot. I remember roughing it during the silver jubilee. It took six years of his life, my best years. I never wanted to go back to Burma.

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