大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from Lincolnshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Raymond Smith and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Smith fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

On 19th August 1942, at the age of 18, I reported to Padgate in Lancashire to commence service in the RAF. My five brothers were already in HM forces so I had volunteered to join them. I was following a family tradition of serving in HM forces since my father was a Regimental Sergeant Major who served with Winston Churchill and also fought throughout WW1. I was his sixth son to sign up.

At Padgate I found numerous other chaps, which allayed my fears and any nervousness I had. The next day I was interviewed by a Flight Sergeant who outlined the three different branches of the RAF open to me. I could become a Motor Transport Driver, an Aircraft hand General Duties or a Gunner. Of the three my choice was driver. 鈥淐an you drive?鈥� asked the Flight Sergeant. 鈥淣o鈥� I replied. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 out鈥� he said. No General Duty job for me, I thought, so I opted for Gunner, not knowing anything about the newly formed RAF regiment.

Kitting out was a big laugh and after a few days when we were beginning, more or less, to look like RAF 鈥榖ods鈥�, I found myself moved to Blackpool with other chaps going the same way.

Four weeks in Blackpool, learning how to drill, attending lectures and taking part in PT. Physical training around Stanley Park before breakfast each morning soon blew the cobwebs away! Whilst here I met Robert Prescott, a fellow from my home town, Spalding, who was training to bean air gunner. Sad to say Robert was later shot down and killed on operations over Germany. Empty guest houses in Blackpool had been taken over by the Ministry of Defence and I found myself on Palatine Road. At the end of our first training we were moved over the Irish Sea to Douglas, Isle of Man. The journey was from Fleetwood, Lancs, and it was my first real sea journey and very rough. We all had been issued with haversack rations in which was a greasy pork pie which I and the other chaps ate heartily resulting in all of us being violently sick.

Disembarking at Douglas we were detailed billets, which again were empty boarding houses. My billet was on the corner of Castle Mona Drive and facing the sea front. The thirteen more weeks in Douglas was spent learning the rudiments of an infantryman and toughening us up. During this time I was brave enough to raise a complaint. Every dinner time our sweet consisted of tapioca, not enough to fill a hollow tooth, and we were ravenous most days. I asked the Orderly Officer if we could have a change, but the same diet continued, so the visit, with the shout of 鈥淎ny complaints鈥�, was taken merely to be something of a military ritual.

Christmas was spent in Douglas and a good time was had by all. Training completed, we were asked to name any aerodrome near to where we lived so that we could be posted to it. My choice was Westwood near Peterborough but when posted at the beginning of 1943 I ended up at Wymeswold near Loughborough, Leicestershire. I and three or four others found ourselves in an AA Gun Flight and we were billeted in a Nissen Hut on the far side of the airfield. Duties here consisted of sitting in a gun pit manning twin Lewis guns.

While stationed at Wymeswold, I was sent on a driving course to Melksham in Wiltshire. It was a pleasant time learning to drive with mechanical instruction. Whilst here I paid a visit to Bath to the historical objects. Passing my driving and technical tests, I received a document to authorise my driving which also enabled me to get a driving licence in civvy street. Returning to our unit I found myself on the guns again. Meantime we were given tests on all the things we had been put through in the previous months. Pleased to say, I passed out from AC3 (Plonk) to LAC (Leading Aircraft Man). Well into 1943 our gun flight moved to Waddington, Lincolnshire and friends found themselves separated due to postings to different Squadrons being formed. Irving Ainsworth, myself and several more found ourselves together. My right arm had been set in plaster because of a rheumatic effect, but I soon ripped off the plaster thinking it might affect my chance of driving. My first lorry was a 3 ton Bedford and being a driver with a lorry to look after certainly lessened guard duties. The Squadron became equipped with 20mm Hispano Cannon.

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