大象传媒

A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE, AND BEYOND
PART TWO

Upon my return from leave, I decided to take a signaller鈥檚 course, this kept me occupied from 31st December 1942 to the 24th March 1943. On the 28th of April, I was drafted to a unit being formed, and designated the 1st Field Battery, at Christchurch. However after 6 months training, this unit was disbanded, and in October 1943,I found myself in another unit being formed, to be known as the 鈥淩oyal Marine Armoured Support Group鈥�,
A TANK unit, being formed at Devizes. Initially our training was on Salisbury Plain, but in January 1944, we were moved to Corsham, near Bath, where I received promotion, with the rank of Corporal, on the 30th March 1944. We continued our training, until taking part in the Normandy landing, on the 6th June 1944.
We landed at Zero plus two, with one Sherman, and four Centaur Tanks, our task being to consolidate the beach head, to a given point. We accomplished this task in three days, upon which we were returned to England, and in September 1944, the Marines Support group, was disbanded. I was demoted from Corporal, and posted to a Signals Unit, at Tre-cwn, near Fishguard, until 16th March 1945. Here I again gained the rank of Corporal, when a further special unit was formed. This was called th 34th Amphibious support Regiment, and was formed at Aldershot. On the 12th April 1945, we embarked for India, arriving at Bombay, on the 8th May 1945 鈥�. V.E. DAY. Our station, was called Mahd Island, about 20 miles outside Bombay.here we were trained in amphibious vehicles for landing in Malaya. Whilst there, the Japanese capitulated, after the Atom Bombs were dropped, on the 6th August.The surrender took place on the 15th August.
On the 10th December 1945, the Regiment having been loaded on to H.M.S. COLOSSUS, arrived in Jakarta, Java. We had sailed through the Malay Straits, passing many bodies in the water. We would have been landed on the Malay coast, had the 鈥渂omb鈥� not been used, so no doubt many lives on our side, may have been saved. There was still some resistance, so we remained for three days, until things had quietened down. We loaded hundreds of Arms, and much ammunition, aboard HMS SALWEEN, and returned to India, this time, Calcutta, arriving on Christmas Eve 1945. Whilst on the Salween, we had our rum issue, regularly, and, having saved this in our water bottles, we were able to enjoy a very MERRY, Christmas Day. We remained in Calcutta, for a few days, then crossed India, to Bombay, arriving on the 6th January 1946.There we remained in the Naval Barracks until 1st March, During which time the Indian peoples, were fighting for their independence, and it fell to us to help to keep order.
On sailing for Home, on H.M.T. Stratheden , arriving in Southampton on 16th March 1946. On disembarking, we were posted to a camp at Braunton , near Barnstaple , in Devon, from which we were able to proceed on leave. On return we were moved from Braunton, on 25th June, to Bickleigh, near the village of Roborough, close to Plymouth. Here I remained for about six months, receiving Commando Training, until on the 31st December, I went back to the Royal Marine Barracks, at Deal, in Kent. This was to attend a signalling course for a First class Rating, at HMS Mercury, and lasted until 20th June 1947, after which I went to Ringwould near Deal, remaining there, until 16th September, when I embarked for Malta. In Malta, I joined 45th Commando, part of the 3rd Commando Brigade. I was with them only for three days,when I was transferred to the 40th Commando, 26th September. On 22nd October we went to Tripoli, on a training exercise. We sojourned in an ex prisoner of war camp, in the desert, where there were inscribed many names on the walls. We survived the diet, containing mainly SAND, and returned to Malta, on 30th November 1947.
India received her Independence, in that year, and as the Jews and Arabs were at each others throats, we set sail for Palestine, on 23rd January 1948, to arrive at Haifa Dockyard, on the 28th. We were billeted in the Dockyard, to prevent an Arab take over of the facilities. There we stayed until the 29th June, when we evacuated the Jews,to Cyprus, and we returned to Malta, arriving 6th July. As there was some trouble with the Jews, in their camps, we had to return to Cyprus, on the 16th September, to act as guards, over them. This duty continued until 16th February 1949, when , owing to a misfortune, I had to return home by destroyer to Port Said, and troopship to england, arriving 17th March, when I was granted immediate leave of three weeks.
At the end of my leave, I had to report to Chatham Barracks, and was then drafted to the Royal Naval School of Music, at Burford, in Oxfordshire. There I stayed , until 14th February 1950, operating the telephone exchange. On that date, I was transferred to the Signal School, Eastney, Portsmouth. At this point, my wife and I decided to exchange our home in Coventry, to a Pre Fab Bungalow, in Portsmouth
My discharge date, should have been 8th August 1951, at the completion of my twelve years, but, due to the international situation, a state of emergency, still existed due to the situation in Korea, thus my service was extended by a further 18 months, making it up to thirteen and a half years, in all.
We had made the move to Portsmouth, under the impression, that I would not have to serve overseas again, but, to my dismay, I was drafted to the Royal marines commando School at Bickleigh, where I remained until 23rd November 1951, on this date, I sailed off to Malta again, to rejoin 40 Commando.
From Malta, we sailed to Taiping, near Ipoh, in Malaya, where I remained until 26th February 1952. As my time of discharge was approaching, I was taken by road to Kuala Lumpur, where I caught a plane to Singapore, where I stayed overnight, and then flew via Beyrouth, Lebanon, and Rome, to England. I am still in possession of my passport, which confirms that journey.My arrival back in England, was 28th February 1952.
On landing, I travelled to Eastney Barracks, where I stayed until after my Daughter was born, 22 April 1952. Shortly afterwards, once again, I returned to 40 Commando, where I stayed until my time for release, then I went to Chatham Barracks, to arrange my discharge, and receive my civilian clothes. This was all finalised, on the 7th February 1953.

ROYAL MARINE ARTHUR ALBERT JESSE SMITH
REGIMENTAL NUMBER Po/x 4250

SUBMITTED BY
MICK FRENCH,
HMS RAMILLIES ASSOCIATION.
FROM A JOURNAL WRITTEN BY MY DEAR FRIEND
ARTHUR SMITH

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