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This story was submitted by Allen Buckroyd, who compiled ‘Great Baddow Oral History’, published in December 2003. The book contained this contribution from John Jackson and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the terms and conditions.

John Jackson — ATC and after
Dad had the garage in Church Street, Great Baddow, and my brother Ted was called up into the Airforce, so it was thought best I left school to stand in for my brother and help Dad. I had an apprenticeship for two years until 1941 and I joined the Chelmsford ATC (Air Training Corps); I think we were one of the first groups, which formed about the same time as the Home Guard started. I was in the ATC until I was called up in August 1942. I was on the reserve to start with, then called up at eighteen.

I was interested in aircraft and boats, and in the ATC you could do both. My ambition was to get into the Royal Air Force on the marine side, which I preferred to being in the Navy. However, when I had my interview they asked me what experience I had had with boats, and as I had only got experience of dinghies they would not let me into the marine side. However, I got my ambition in the end, on A.S.R. boats at Karachi.

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