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My Dad was Thomas Johnston, the same name as mine; I was named after my Dad with Eric placed as my second name.
He joined the British Army at the Black Watch Barracks after enlisting in Edinburgh.
He intended to enlist in the Tank Regiments and began training as a signaller for communications at Catterick Camp in Yorkshire. He spent 19 months in the Army before being transferred to the R.A.F. at Cossington in Leicestershire and became a member of the now famous : Dam Buster Squadron, this is where he personally met Barnes Wallace a big move for a lad who was born in Edinburgh

They made many practice run’s at Lake Windermere, the first runs failed, they had to keep changing the design of the famous ‘Bouncing Bomb’ that was shaped like a giant football.

He was sent over Holland in aircraft and surveyed the target area from the air in Holland, the target dams.
The first time they tried to drop the bombs during practice in England they could not gauge the correct height to fly the aircraft, so some boffins came up with a bright idea by placing search lights at angles and when the correct height was obtained for bombing, the lights linked by crossing over into each other.
Exact timing was important with this specialised Ball — Bomb. Not only was this the only way that they had decided to obtain a successful target hit, but they would be limited as to how many could make the run and how many could be carried. The ‘Flak’ would be fierce as these dams provided the valuable power for the German Industrial Effort and also Allied fears at the time was that the Germans would be them to make ‘Heavy Water’ to make Hydrogen bombs and later H’ Bombs.

Later when he was sent to the desert, Sahara and Cairo after transferring back to Army Units, he was told not to drink the water. He was also advised that they might have to filter their urine through handkerchiefs.

My dad also served with the famous ‘Mad Mitch ‘of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders stationed at Stirling Castle who had a reputation of getting the job done. ‘Mad Mitch’ made amendments to the men’s ration by changing the potato ration to the porridge ration.

The desert was famous for having contaminated water wells, due to the oil wells leaking into them through cracks in the ground. Fierce hot conditions would make people desperate to obtain water from anywhere.

This story was submitted to the “Peoples War Site by Rod Aldwinckle of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of Thomas Johnston and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the terms and conditions of the site

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