大象传媒

Memories 2

1941

January 3

Play table tennis in the Inter-station Fire Brigade Finals. We win!

January 5

Return my Home Guard uniform and equipment to the local HQ

January 6

Say farewell to the Arts and Crafts School and the London Fire Brigade.

January 7

In Dad鈥檚 car from Kidbrooke to Sutton Coldfield, slipping and sliding all the way on roads covered with frozen snow.

January 8

Move into 22 Mayfield Road, Sutton Coldfield

January 11

First day for weeks with no air raids.

January 18

Mike arrives from Dymchurch on 3 days leave.

January 20

Heavy snowfall makes Sutton Park look like fairyland. Start work in the Sales Office of the Dunlop Rubber Company 鈥� a job arranged by Dad, who has also got Tig a position at the Dole Office. Report to the Sutton Home Guard in the evening. They have a little canteen, where the 鈥淪quire鈥檚 daughters鈥� serve soft roes on toast 鈥� delicious.

January 24

First week鈥檚 pay from 鈥漈he Dunlop鈥� - 拢1/6/3d. Elected Secretary of the Mayfield Road Fire Watchers and Fighters. Arrange duty roster for the residents 鈥� 2 per night for each side, equipped with whistles and stirrup pumps.

February 13

Mike鈥檚 21st Birthday. He arrives with Gladys for a one-day visit 鈥� I give him a pewter tankard, Dad gives him a set of Seton Merriman鈥檚 books.

March 11

Stick of incendiary bombs falls in the gardens of Mayfield Road. Baptism of fire for our Watchers and Fighters.

April 9

Mike marries Gladys in Colwyn Bay. Big raid on Birmingham 鈥攁ircraft droning back and forth over Sutton 鈥� bombs falling and buildings burning in the city. Twelve German 鈥榩lanes shot down.

April 22

Letter from London 鈥� our house in Kidbrooke has been blown clean off its foundation by a bomb in the next-door garden, and will have to be demolished.

April 24

Home Guard manoeuvres 鈥淎ll over Sutton Park鈥� under the command of one Corporal Douglas Thomas (The start of a friendship which has lasted over 60 years.)

July 9

Promoted to corporal again 鈥� half a year since I had to give up my stripes on leaving London. Had a celebratory drink with Douglas, after practising Guard Mounting Drill in Sutton Park.

July 18

This has been a typically busy week 鈥� worked at the Fire Service every day, then put on my Home Guard uniform for:-
Monday. Firing at butts, then Corporal of the Guard all night.
Wednesday. Firing with a P14 rifle fitted with a Morris tube, in the basement, till 2230 hours
Thursday Took a squad in arms drill and musketry.
Friday.Finished a ten week course of Physical and Bayonet Training at the Riding School, then to Headquarters for a late supper in the canteen with Douglas.
July 26

Leave Sutton Coldfield with Douglas on heavily-laden bikes, on our way to Torquay 鈥� some 200 miles to the South West

July 27 to Aug 3

At Douglas鈥檚 mother鈥檚 hotel in Torquay. Hiking, swimming, drinking Scrumpy and scoffing Mrs Thomas鈥檚 delicious grub

August 4

Back in Sutton.

August 18

Dad (on my bike) and Joan off for five days, to Cirencester, Wells, Cheddar, and Gloucester.

August 27

Joan applies to join the Women鈥檚 Land Army.

August 28

To a rehearsal of 鈥淐avalleria Rusticana鈥� by the Sutton Operatic Society. Sounds good, so fork out the ten shillings subscription.

September 17

Hear on the news that all fire brigades have been nationalised and are looking for staff. Write to the Birmingham office of the new National Fire Service, applying for a job.

October 4

Last day at The Dunlop. Take a bottle of port to the office for my farewell party.

October 6

Start work at the Birmingham Fire Brigade - 拢2/10/0 per week.

October 8

Awarded my crossed swords as a P.T. Instructor, to wear over my stripes.

October 11

Joan home for the weekend, en route to a farm in Warwick, looking very sharp in her Women鈥檚 Land Army uniform.

October 16

Issued with my N.F.S. uniform, tin hat and service respirator.

October 22

First air raid for 65 days. Wet drill and smoke drill at Shadwell Street Fire Station.

November 6

Miss the last bus after a late rehearsal. Walk soprano Elaine Ritchie to her home.(This becomes a regular procedure)

November 13 to 15

鈥淐avalleria Rusticana鈥� at Sutton Town Hall. Very well received. Whisky Macs at the 鈥淭hree Tuns鈥� with Elaine after each performance.

December 10

Shattered by the news of the sinking of the 鈥淧rince of Wales鈥� and the 鈥淩epulse鈥�. Ring Elaine, and agree to cheer ourselves up by having supper at her service club and going to the cinema.

December 16

Dad leaves Birmingham to become District Manpower Officer at Hanley, Staffs.

December 25

On Christmas Eve, Dad had arrived from Hanley with a chicken, and Joan came in late from her farm in Leamington, bringing 12 eggs, a rabbit and 4 pounds of pig. Traditional present distribution at 0845 hours, eggs and bacon, chat, lunch of chicken and pork,chat. Elaine and Douglas came at tea time 鈥� games and singing till 2300 hours.

December 31

To a New Year鈥檚 Eve dance at the Marley Dance Hall with Elaine. She expects to join the army next month, and my call-up is also imminent, so our ways are parting. Escort her to Highbridge Road at 0050, then home to ring Mum in Hanley, to wish her a Happy New Year.

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