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I left school in 1941 at fourteen years of age, and started work with a company in Trafford Park, Hill’s Aircraft Ltd., as an apprentice-fitter. This company produced component parts, including propellers, for aircraft, a priority for the war effort.
I found the work rather boring, stuck at a bench filing burrs off metal washers; this was the ridge or rough edge left on the washer. One day the monotony was broken when we had a visit from the B.B.C team who put on a ‘Music While You Work’ programme in the works canteen, and we were entertained during our lunch hour -- a very nice break.
The following week I was walking past the notice-board near the clock station when I spotted a list of names of persons chosen to take a turn on Fire Watch duty overnight in the factory. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw my own name on the list1 To say I was excited would be an understatement -- all night on fire duty in Trafford Park was too good to be true. I forget now how I managed to convince my mother and father that I had to go, but it’s so long ago it doesn’t really matter. I don’t remember whether or not we had an air-raid on the two occasions I did my watch, but I certainly enjoyed my stint for the war effort.
Nb: When management checked the list some time later they found my name
and age, and due to the fact that I was under the minimum age (eighteen),
I was regretfully retired from duty.

WARTIME STORY (2)

I was a serving member of the 45th East Lancs detachment British Red Cross, holding the rank of sergeant and based in Eccles from 1944-1950. As part of our duties to the public in a wartime situation, we attended at hospitals, various cinemas
and other functions in our capacity as voluntary aid personnel. We carried out a tour of duty for the American Red Cross at their headquarters based in Manchester at the Reform Club which was situated in Albert Square. During the course of overnight duty there, we would administer first aid and medical treatment to American Servicemen when visiting Manchester from all over the North-West.
Together with other members from our detachment, I carried out various overnight shifts during 1944 to the satisfaction of our American friends and allies. In 1945 at the end of World War 2, the American staff based in Manchester presented the 45th detachment with the American Red Cross flag, together with a large quantity of candy sweets, as a token of thanks. We distributed those candies at the Red Cross Hall in Eccles to a number of war orphans.
These two wartime stories of my youth are factual, and both served to give me a sense of purpose as I have travelled along on Life’s Journey.

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