大象传媒

E.P Hough No. 14424568

I volunteered for the Royal Armoured Corps in early 1943. Was called in early April for the Royal Army Corps. Did six weeks introduction on Leicester Race Course, the horses had better treatment! After six weeks I went to a driving school in ALfreton. First question: "Can you drive?"
"Yes sir. A little knowledge of my father's car"
"Right this is yours for six weeks".
A three ton six wheel American left hand drive lorry! Life at ALfreton hard but interesting. I could never understand, and I still can't, why I had to do night guard duty on an empty car park in the centre of Alfreton, not even a bicycle to guard!

Transfer to Roayl Ordnance Corps, vehicle division. Several weeks on vehicle park outside Lancaster, quite good. On an overseas posting to Egypt but not sent, too young. Prepared for D Day and embarked for Normandy late June. Dealing with damaged and unwanted vehicles of all shapes and sizes.

Most Memorable Day
Location: field outside Bayeaux, France. Working 12-15 hours a day. Life under canvas, no toilet and fresh water facilities, beds on bare ground. Around end of July a warning about the possibility of German parachutists being dropped in our area. Everyone extra vigilant. Weather cold and wet. On guard duty one night with a cockey 5 ft Lance Corporal. We discovered a Canadian lorry returned to our park with many others. At the back of the lorry was a "looted" French double bed of great size and fully equiped. My Lance Corporal and I decided no one was about so we could have a little luxury and cat nap, fully clothed except for our boots. Sometime in the middle of the night we heard a commotion outside our entrance gate. Immediate thought, Germans! We arouse, panic striken, and in haste took up positions by the entrance. We demanded whoever was there to advance singularly on foot, through the mud, with the warning that we would fire at the slightest hesitation. Imagine out feelings when the men in question turned out to be British, a General and his staff officers, inspecting the local camps!

The following morning we were in front of the commanding officer, shaking at the knees and thinking we would be facing a firing squad. He was, however, full of praise and he had been patted on the back by the General for such a smart and vigilant guard! a few nightmares and bad dreams for both of us!

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