大象传媒

WW2 memories of Sgt R. W. Thorpe as told to his daughter Sheila Dodman.

I joined NAAFI RASC/EFI for overseas service on 27.4.1940 and served 881 days. My first job was as an Assistant Manager Bulk Issue and my weekly wage was 拢2.15s.

I received my basic training in Croydon, and in due course travelled to Southampton, sailed to Le Havre and then by rail to Nantes in a cattle truck.

I was a friend and colleague of Frank Clements, we had both been employed in the Grocery Department of Elliott鈥檚 Stores, South Houses, Eastbourne and were both part of the mass evacuation of the BEF from St. Nazaire on June 17t 1940. I was take from the beach by the Grimsby trawler 鈥淐ambridgeshire鈥� to the 鈥淥ronsay鈥� and witnessed the bombing and sinking of the 鈥淟ancastria鈥� which is thought to be the British maritime disaster with the greatest loss of life.
Frank was a keen amateur photographer and was aboard the destroyer 鈥淗ighlander鈥� and managed to take what are probably the only pictures of the dreadful scene.
He continued his war service on 鈥淗MS Exeter鈥� which was sunk in the Java Sea and therefore he was captured and became a Japanese POW for 1,264 days.

Prior to the war I had played the Trumpet with the 230/58 R.A. Territorial Band in Eastbourne. Although I was not in the Territorial Army I had trained with them, which was how I came to be a Bugler at the Fair Green Canvas Camp in Mitcham, Surrey. I had to get up in time to play the Reveille at 6 a m, you can imagine how cold it was! I used to go to the cookhouse for a mug of hot cocoa before I could play.
I later reported to NAAFI H.Q. Reigate, and was posted to Westerham Command Supply Depot as the Manager and was subsequently promoted to District Manager .I was issued with a Ford Anglia car (AJN 182) which I drove with masked head lamps and without the benefit of street lighting or signposts.
In 1943 an Efficiency Competition for Command Supply Depots, South Eastern Command, resulted in two of my depots being placed 1st Tenterden and 3rd Marden.

Prior to the invasion of France in June 1944 we issued supplies to the value of 拢21,081 on June 2nd and on June 9th 拢19,865 - this was when a storeman鈥檚 weekly wage was 拢2.9s.0d. plus 拢1.4s 6d.for Board and Lodging Allowance.
I was associated with the following establishments Tenterden, Marden Lydden, Lenham, Davigdor Road Hove, Old Cinema Ashford, Horsmenden, Canterbury, Birchington, Petworth, Hobbs Barracks Lingfield, Oakwood Hill, Shornecliffe, Westerham, RAF Hawkinge, and Mereworth Castle.
I still have the original applicable documents for all of the above.

In the 鈥淥fficial History of the NAAFI, Commemorating 75 years of Serving the Services鈥� it records a great deal about what happened overseas but not about our UK Command Supply Depots.

I also have a 68-page price list for Elliott鈥檚 Stores (when best back Danish bacon was 1s 8d per pound). I started work for 5s/0d (25p) per week in 1926.

I married Audrey Ireland on 1.6.1941. She was a fully trained Felt and Tarrant comptometer operator and had worked for Wakefield Oil and Hawker Aircraft.
We were married for 58 years.

I would like to pay tribute to the captains and crews of the 鈥滳ambridgeshire鈥� and the 鈥漁ronsay 鈥漺ho saved my life and of many others. I am now 92 years of age and have great-grandchildren.

Sgt. R. W. Thorpe. RASC/EFI 148802

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.