大象传媒

In the summer of 1940 I took my H.S.C. (Higher School Certificate), in Physics, Maths and Chemistry. The Head Master wanted us to take University Scholarships, so I repeated my H.S.C. and took a number of scholarships in 1941. I enjoyed this second year playing Rugby etc. and not working too hard. I decided on Birmingham University as the Hankey scheme paid more than my other scholarships which were small. The Hankey scheme was for Scientists.

I found there was no free time for sports at Birmingham. There were Home Guard parades plus some Fire Watching duties at night. I decided to volunteer for the Army in the Summer of 1942. First there was a preliminary course at the University while the other students were on holiday. This lasted until September 1942 when I was sent to the Army Radio School at Petersham - lodging in Richmond. There were 2 courses; one to aid gun firing the other to help Search Light spotting. I chose the gun laying course. I passed out with others and was commissioned on 16th January 1943. The designation was RMO (Radio Maintenance Officer) which was sometimes confused with regimental Medical Officer. I had a detachment of craftsmen and NCO's (Non Commissioned Officers) looking after Radar equipment on some sites around Plymouth at first. I had a car, tools and a driver. If the driver was a female I drove myself at night when on an emergency call out was necessary.

I made my first visit to Bristol in June 1944 when I was sent on a Battle course there. This was tough but sensible as snipers fired live ammunition just above you as you crawled across fields with your rifle.You soon learned to lie flat. One day we went to the firing range near Old Passage. We were instructed to conserve Ammunition by firing single bullets and had sandwiches for lunch. We were somewhat envious when an American group arrived later, firing Automatics and sat down to a meal organised by a chef ending with Strawberries!

By early 1945 as the Allies were on top, RMO's were less necessary. So many of us were posted pending a decision on what to do with us. I went to Leicston Suffolk for a time. A local girl was murdered in a field near the camp and we were confined to barracks.

Inspector Green and a Sergeant came from Scotland Yard to cross question us. Very tough. My driver was on the short list of suspects as he had been in a nearby field with a girl. Eventually Bernard Spilsbury the Pathologist found a grain of corn with the girl's blood an a soldiers pocket. He was found guilty but insane.

Finally I was posted to Arborfield near Reading, the REME (Royal Mechanical and Electrical Engineers) Head Quarters, and undertook a mechanical course on Tanks and other Vehicles. At the end I had all the instructions for the Far East and was going first to Tricomlee (Ceylon now Sri Lanka). At the Passing Out Parade I was called to the Adjutants office and told I was being discharged under a class B release (out of town) because Birmingham University had asked for me back. I left the Army in December 1945 and started on my second year work in January 1946 having missed the first term.

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