大象传媒

When war was declared notices were broadcast on the Radio every hour on the hour. One of the first said Qualified Engineers were to report to the nearest University. As I was in East Anglia at the time I reported to Cambridge, and was sworn in as a potential officer. I heard no more of this, and as I was employed laying hardcore along the edges of fields for the use of A.A. guns. I obtained a job at Woolwich Arsenal.

Two days later I received my call up papers to report to number 2 Training Battalion at Newark. The personnel department told me to take no notice. I objected, and was told I was not required to report for a fortnight. Two days later I received another letter from the War Office saying my call up was cancelled. This was repeated six months later. Only now I realised that if I had to go, the sooner I went the better.

I duly reported and spent a month on the square and doing riffle drill. I then spent a month training as an engineer, besides water supply and demolitions. We dug trenches and constructed 鈥淎鈥� frames and duckboards in the best 1918 style. In the Company were two other Potential Officers and we spent a month on an N.C.O鈥檚 course. Then we three kicked our heals waiting to go to Officer Training Units. I became an Acting Unpaid Orderly Corporal in the Company Office. And had to vet letters to go to the Sergeant Major or others. A letter was received from a sapper applying to become an Officer which had to include two references, I checked it and handed it on to the Sergeant Major. Who insisted that the references were no good as one was signed 鈥淓bor鈥� without an initial. I felt out of place, as an acting lance corporal with less the six months service, trying to explain to a Sergeant Major with over 30 years service, that the Arch Bishop of York always signed his name 鈥淓bor鈥�.

After six months in the ranks the Potential Officers went to an Officers Training Unit for six months, to find the earlier draft were being posted to London Bomb Disposal. While I was there Singapore fell so our posting were to India.

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