大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by the 大象传媒 Learning Centre with the permission of Nasreen Akhtar of the Our Untold Stories project in Gloucester, to which Stan Boreland gave his war story before he died.

The period immediately following the Second World War marked the arrival of a significant number of people of African-Caribbean origin in Gloucester.

Most intended to stay only a few years; to improve their education, learn a skill, or make enough money to buy a home in the Caribbean.

Some had been in Britain as servicemen during the war. Others were encouraged to come by recruitment drives in the Caribbean funded by a government eager to fill vacancies in certain occupations and to rebuild post-war Britain.

Most intended to stay only a few years - to improve their education, learn a skill, or make enough money to buy a home in the Caribbean. They came from all over the islands, the majority from Jamaica, but also from Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad, and over the years, many others.

In the case of Histon (Stan) Boreland, there was no return to Gayle, in the parish of St Mary, Jamaica. Following his stint as a motorcyclist with the RAF during the war, he stayed on.

It was in 1944, as a young man aged 18, that he had seen advertisements in the Jamaican Gleaner stating that 'The Mother Country Needs You', encouraging people to join in the war effort. He responded to an advertisement for ground staff for the RAF.

His journey to England was not straightforward. He travelled on the SS Cuba, leaving Jamaica on 16 May. However, after just four days, the ship had to dock at Newport News, Virginia, USA. The men were required to stay a few days at Camp Patrick Henry as the ship could not be escorted across the Atlantic due to D-Day arrangements.

After a train journey to New York, he boarded the SS Arawa in a convoy of 75 ships including tankers from South America, destroyers and other boats.

About half way across the Atlantic, a German submarine was sighted and the convoy had to disperse. He eventually arrived at Liverpool docks on 27 June.

Stan completed eight weeks of basic training or 'square-bashing' in Yorkshire - at a Butlin's camp which had been requisitioned by the Army - followed by a motorcycle course at Weeton, near Blackpool.

He was then posted to Little Staughton, to Number 8 Bomber Group ('Pathfinders'), as a motorcyclist travelling to various sister units, until the end of the war.

Following short spells in Suffolk and Cornwall, Stan came to Gloucester in October 1946.

He was posted to RAF Innsworth, where he remained until 1949. He recalls that there were between 40 and 50 servicemen from the Caribbean in Gloucester at the time. In his last year at Innsworth he met his wife, Vilma, during a camp dance at Churchdown.

That same year, due to a dock strike and the employment of servicemen to carry out the work, he was posted to York, but later returned to Gloucestershire, to South Cerney.

Here he was based until he left the Royal Air Force in January 1952. When he was demobbed, he lived for a while with his in-laws. As an ex-serviceman he had no problems finding accommodation and was given a council house in Matson, Gloucester.

In civilian life Stan was employed as a driver for many years. He then completed a government training course as a welder and was employed at the Wagon Works in Southgate Street until it closed down.

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