大象传媒

So you went back in the mill when you came home did you?
Yes, but you know the point was when you join the army the saying was you job was safe you could have your job when you come back. But when I come back they said 鈥榳ell there鈥檚 a man with a family doing your job鈥�. So I couldn鈥檛 have my job back I had to take anything because coming out on B release I had to serve at least 12 months in the cotton industry before I could go and get a better job.

That was how you were restricted then?
Yes.

After the 12 months where did you go to then?
I went to the Post Office. I went down to Saffer down Oxford Road, Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association, and they got me an interview at Dial House at Salford and I went as a night telephonist.

Were you there for sometime?
Yes, about two years. And then I packed that in because I met Irene. No good working nights.

So, like a lot of other people I have interviewed when you came back from the war you had problems. Firstly going into the job you originally had and then problems finding work to go back into?

Yes you see here鈥檚 an example. When my twelve months was up before I went to the Post Office I went down to Cable and Wireless because they do all that sort of stuff, you know, and on the hoardings it said 鈥�45 army trades recognised by trade unions鈥� and when I went to Cable and Wireless they didn鈥檛 want to know me.

Was that because they didn鈥檛 recognise your trade?
Yes it was one of the trades the trade union didn鈥檛 recognise. The army trades.

How did you feel about that?
I felt a bit sore really. I thought it was diabolical. I had various jobs after the Post Office. Finally I got a job as a postman in Walkden. The finest job I had ever had.

And did you retire from there then?
Yes. I retired at 60.

There is one thing I didn鈥檛 know the existence of 鈥楾he Burma Star Association鈥�

That you were involved with?
Yes, and I was very, very low because after I retired everything started to happen my eyes went, my ticker started playing up, my circulation went and then I joined the local Burma Star Association and they picked me up right off the floor, they did.

Can I ask in what way?
Well I got a lot of support from them. They鈥檙e a good group, friendly group. I said to them once before I joined this I had few friends and many acquaintances but when I joined the branch that was reversed. I had a lot of friends and a lot of support.

And where was the branch?
Walkden Legion

William鈥檚 friend John adds 鈥淗e was eventually made Chairman鈥�
William continues: John was Chairman but had to resign for reasons that he might explain in his own story. Now I was Vice Chairman and because no one else wanted the job I went on as Chairman until such time as John wanted to come back, but it was rather a protracted time wasn鈥檛 it John.

How long was this association in formation then?
1975 when it was formed.

Can you remember how many members?
Oh quite a few. Quite a lot actually. We could fill at 57 seater bus to Blackpool for the day, that was without those who didn鈥檛 go. I would say roughly when the branch was formed I鈥檓 talking about 40 to 50 members, men and then the wives were included after that. But now we are down to about 6 or 7 now.

You were telling me at the Art Gallery that you have now finished.
Yes we have finished now. We have closed down now.

Where have you put the banner?
In St Paul鈥檚 Church at Walkden.

Excuse me, standard, not a flag not a banner

It鈥檚 known as a Standard O.K. and when I met you at the art gallery Marianne was saying that you had quite a few medals?

Can you just mention what the medals are that you were wearing
Well them.

The first one is the 1939 鈥� 45 Star
The second one is the Burma Star which is the campaign medal for the campaign in Burma.
The next one is the Defence Medal, for the defence of the realm. During the so called invasion of Britain by Hitler 1940-41, the invasion scare wasn鈥檛 it.
And the last one is the War Medal.

Well thank you very much for sharing your memory because it is very important that it is documented, then people can at some time listen to it.

It鈥檚 not very exciting really

It鈥檚 a record of what you did. It might not be exciting to you but they were frightening times and it鈥檚 very important that people understand what you did. Thank you very much Bill.

Thank you.

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