大象传媒

James C Ross

Mr Ross went into army cadets and became messenger for the local Home Guard, attached to a Greenock Battalion. Manouevres at weekends against regular soldiers. Wargames at weekends - on High road to Kilmacolm - Mathernock Farm - there were heavy Ak Ak guns there - 4 heavies. Got out of school to go potato howkin, the alarm went on Matternock - sirens went in village - Jock Crawford was farmer - "get below the cairts" - a reconnaissance plane came over - couple of the guns fired - they could feel the blast. The other guns were at Gallowhill - lots of search light - control unit was at Duchal Castle. 1940 violent snow fall - soldiers were newly in huts - started to leak - etc.. unit nearest was at Gateside Farm - westside school - soldiers were moved there because of this. A Lysander had to drop supplies. Balrossie - was HQ of the light AK Ak - they hired a horse called Paddy from Mr Ross's father. Army cadets in retrospect were given too much rope - access to home guard ammunition - never trusted the safety on the bren gun. A friend tried it in school - dropped it and the gun went off. Used to chop down trees with the bren. A lot of ex-WW1 as officers. Father had a butchers shop in Greenock, - in Ann St. Blitz - all the windows blown in.
Two old WW1 flag ships brought up for protection on the Clyde. Father was a farmer - used land girls to plough land that wouldn't normally be used. Barrage balloons - old Angus - farm worker - bachelor boy - old boy. He said that there was a barrage balloon loose and bouncing down the farm - blew the electricity lines for the farm - blew across the Duchal Moor never to be seen again. Left school at 15 - went into architecture office but then went into Scottish Aviation, based at Cairds Yard. As electrician - had a few trips to various places - all illegally. His tradesman was Bob Blanchflower - he was the technician for Sunderlands. His last job was converting Sunderlands from Bristol Pegasus to Pratt & Whitney - for more power. Went in to the RAF for three weeks but was transferred to the Army to the Argylls. 32 in General Service Corp, mechanic from Albion, tradesmen - 90% had a trade - the only one that went into the REME was a labourer!!! Training at Perth - posted from an old dyeworks to Perth Hall for training. Transferred to Edinburgh - became truck driver. Put on draft for abroad - A drivers - B draft. Went to Austria - 6 weeks and then back to Edinburgh. Got into HQ co in Highland Brigade Transport Section - driving three tonners - given promotion to Storeman. Then Driving Instructor. Every lorry was a crash gearbox. Very difficult to learn this. One man couldn't get the hang of it at all - Mr Ross took him out at evening - took down Edinburgh - stalled on George Bridge. Definitely a B driver!!!
The Mary and Lizzie came into the Tail o the Bank - trains came through Kilmacolm every 10 minutes - went outside and waved - got a supply of cigarettes, chocolate etc.. from the American troops on board. Kilmacolm Hydro turned into hospital - evacuees from Glasgow - half day schooling as a result. Uncle had a farm, called Greenfield at Garelochhead - sheep farm. Mr Ross was there when war declared. Mum and Dad came and caught him immediately - thought the Germans were going to walk in immediately. 6 guys billeted - started surveying the beach - start of Faslane. At the Blitz, Jonh Carson and Mr Ross went up to the moor - collecting shrapnel etc.. saw a green thing - beautiful green half easter egg- with parachute attached - perfect condition. Old keeper shopped them - army truck arrived to take it away - Greenock was written on chalk on the landmine. Another uncle had farm in Largs - Commandoes at Largs - sat with two commandoes in the bothy of the farm - What you doing tomorrow? Walking off the pier!! Sure enough - next dat day - walked off the pier!! Followed commandoes down Duchal woods on their bikes - went into the edge of a wood - commandoes started to hack down trees to make shelters - being nosy they asked what they were doing - commandoes gave them money to get cigarettes - On exercise - officers cycled. Went back next day - they were gone.

Scottish Aviation offered him a job when he came back - but in Isle of White. Refused - went into butchers trade. Worked in Kilmacolm as butcher

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