大象传媒

This story has been entered onto the People's War website, by CSV Volunteer, Ann Toomey, on behalf of the author Clive Banfield Payne, who is fully aware of the site's terms and conditions.

Aged 18 I applied to be accepted into the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry of the 1st Cavalry division and the 5th Cavalry Brigade. August 1939 on vacation with my parents and older brother in Polzeath (N. Cornwall) and during that time we were embodied into the Regular Army from the T.A. for the duration and ordered to report to the Barracks in Newark (Notts) having collected our spurs, bandoliers, boots, sabre etc. from our home. Vigorous training ensued including parade ground drilling, bare back riding, gunnery etc., and the inevitable innoculations and guard duties - we marched to a cafe for lunch with our band!

Commenced in 'A' Sabre Squadron and later promoted to H.Q. Sqdn. as a pack horse leader with a Vickers Machine Gun, now blessed with a second mount to clean, feed, water etc. plus saddlery (Ammo on another pack). When at 6am all lined out in four or five rows to take them to water, one of mine (we had two each) was far too inquisitive of the mare in front and she showed displeasure by lifting both rear hooves, lashed out missed my horses but felled me to the ground - to hospital where Matron said "breathe in and out, breathe in again and HOLD and she applied wide strips of adhesive tape to my chest - then ordered me to breathe normally - (if one could!)

We slept on the cobbled floor of the stabling area - on guard we often utilised hay bales to ease pressure - conducive to a spot of shut eye until warm breath close to my nose revealed to me that one of the steeds had undone his rope and slipped his shackle and sought out a spot of company - now fully awake I gathered him in etc.

Summoned to the C.O. Decemer 1939 for my first mini promotion, but with a proviso - I quote "You are assigned to go with the 2nd in Command and be the Regiment's advance party and atached to 6th Brigade and 650 mounts." Train to dock area and thence by boat to France (Dunkirk not yet taken place) thence by rail to Marseille - very cold and uncomfortable - many horses froze to death (we fared little better). From Marseille our "Mediterranean cruise" began to finish up at Peninsular Barracks Haifa to await my Regiment - I was attached to the Royal Scots Grays, joining them on various skirmishes into the hills and Bedouin settlements to try and track down, inter alia, regimental gear stolen viz guns, sabres, saddlery etc., often hidden in the interior of large dung heaps requiring thorough searchings therein!

Regiment arrived late January 1940 (brother now reserved occupation.) Daily strenuous training involving long route marches with a respirator worn (in warmer climate!) Move on to the end of 1940 and we were de-horsed, now to be trained as Coast Defence Artillery - first journey into desert with Gen. Wavell's 40,000 - then later on we were sent to Tobruck, Libya, which was under Naval command - so onto January 1941 and in the thick of the siege for the next 6 months with daily bombardment from land, sea and air - when not actually involved in the demands of the day we lived a troglodyte existence! So the months labouriously passed and we were relieved at dead of night with blackened faces, soft footwear and ordered to lay face down side by side on the deck of an Australian destroyer - with auxilliary engines we silently slipped out of the harbour hugging the cliffs - silence and stealth essential - then full steam ahead to Alexandria.

It was now June/July 1941 - further retraining as an Armoured Regiment (Tanks) with 8th Armoured Brigade Group - now Royal Armoured Corps, to prepare for El Alamein October 1942 with other intervening sorties and all those desert battles versus Gen. Irwin Rommel (Germany) our leaders were in the main General (Later Field Marshal) Bernard Montgomery and General Alexander. Eventually victorious, at a cost, in latter part of 1943 then, as a depleted yet victorious Regiment, we came home in December 1943 and so later on to prepare for D.Day.

Whilst in Middle East I was hospitalised with fever and in a Tented Hospital not far from the Palestinian/Egyptian border with Quinine as a daily sustenance! A further entry perhaps of interest was when I was seconded to G.H.Q.for 12 or so months as A/ORQMS. On returning to the U.K. I travelled from our disembarking area Greenock, Scotland to take up an appointment for a short period at HQ Records, London, until about April 1944 when I returned to my Regiment to take up former appointment as O.R.S. Field, but regretfully reverting to former in the field rank (less pay too!)

Engaged on top secret work for Overlord (D.Day), which was 6th June, 1944. The Regiment landed on the 6th on the Arromanches beach-head, Gold Beach Jig Sector with 'floating' tanks. i.e. D.D. tanks and soft skins i.e. lorries and their like - mine was fitted out as a mobile office from which the C.O. and Adjutant operated with myself and my staff - we had an 'apron' around us and an air vent (like a periscope). All disembarked the Landing Craft down the ramp into the sea and to trundle along the sea bed.

Advanced through France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany, with too many traumatic experiences enroute.

From the front line at Geilenkirchen not too far from the Rhine, I was evacuated to the Military Hospital Amiens for an operation on my right foot thus away for some weeks until allowed to rejoin my Regiment.

We slept rough for months with haphazard meal breaks. One situation perhaps worthy of inclusion was on the Dutch/German border where a pro-enemy Nun signalled to the enemy from the church tower directing their fire power to our leaguered area with sad results - many casualties including a lady who, with her daughter, brought sustenance to us - she was blown up.

Sleeping 'quarters' a scratched hollow under my vehicle laater to prove a safety haven as shrapnel bored many jagged holes along the side (if at my desk legs would have been severed!) On another occasion during oft repeated bombardments, I slept in a bivouac tent and heard nothing - the duty officer on his rounds to check things popped his head into the tent and found me asleep - clear conscience or what!?

Medals, Decorations, Campaign etc

Medal of the British Empire & Mention. (inscribed) (Middle East & Europe)
39-45 Star
African Star & Clasp (8th Army)
France & Germany Star
Defence Medal
39-45 Service Medal
Territorial Dec. (inscribed)
National Service (Crown & Country)
Polish Cross (Embodied prior to invasion by Germany Late Summer 1939)
Front Line Service (Belgium Liberation)
Liberation of France
Normandy Campaign Medal& Clasp
Dutch Liberation (King Albert)
Medal of Europe & Clasp
General Service (inscribed)
Voluntary Service Medal (inscribed)
Confederation of Europe Combattants
Victory Medal
Allies Cross & Clasp
Siege of Tobruk Libya 1941 (inscribed)
*
Overlord 6.6.1944 (5 beaches) (Gold)
"Liberation" Jig Sector
Normandie 60 years Veterans Award
***
Stick pin HM Armed Forces
60th Commemoration of the anniversary of VE/VJ Day 10th July 2005 Boconnoc Estate Cornwall

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