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At the time of VE Day my parents decorated the front window with coloured lights, red, white and blue ribbon and three photographs – my eldest brothers in RAF uniform and I in ATC (Air Training Corp.) uniform. I think my Dad should have had his photo in his Home Guard uniform and my Mother in prominent position for having kept us together and fed from the meagre rations we were allowed.

TOP SECRET
Information as to the whereabouts of Leonard Moseley was supposed to be kept secret for fear of his followers putting him forward to create trouble. It so happened that one day, outside our railway station several boxes and cases were left for collection. Lo and behold each package bore the name of Leonard Moseley and the secret address that he was being held at! Prior to the start of the war, his ‘Black Shirts’ had been active in the town with street corner meetings at which there were scuffles. My Dad and I stood watching one such meeting.

DINING CAR
Having moved from my first job in Fleet Street to right near my home, the office I worked at was adjacent to the railway station sidings. The Railway Company had evacuated their staff from central London to our town and had permanently parked a couple of railway restaurant/dining cars in the siding for the staff lunch facilities. The Chef and catering staff would travel to this location each day, doing jobs en route – such as black-out on trains, and then prepare and serve the meals before travelling back home each afternoon. Several of us from our company were made welcome and fed in style – first class. It was appreciated that the soup did not sway in plates or steam train cinders drop on the fish and chips.

D-DAY PREPARATION
Just prior to the D-day landings, convoys of troops would pass through our town on their way to the embarkation areas. Our A.T.C. headquarters was located on one of the convoy's routes and we were able to cheer them on their way. At our location there was also one of the W.V.S. feeding stations, which passed out drinks and eats to the soldiers and airmen. Amongst the vehicles were some heavy tank carrying vehicles and the road suffered from the excessive weight that it had to carry. Some of the A.T.C. lads were due to enter the forces and it brought home to them what they would soon be facing.

Ian Dellow

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