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WW2 Website

9 December 2003

In response to your recent televised appeal for WW2 stories I am Emailing a copy of the original account which I sent to the Imperial War Museum last year following an appeal by them on Radio 4.

They replied with a request that I expand my story to anything up to book length.

This I did in two sections entitled:-
鈥楾hey Also Served 鈥� Memoirs of a Conscript to Rear Echelon鈥� (25 pages)
and a corollary to this entitled 鈥榃artime Frivolities鈥�, being an account of our general activities and off duty behaviour (36 pages).

They seemed to accept this with great enthusiasm and I am informed that it is now held in their archives for study by future researchers. Having donated my script to I.W.M., we would have to obtain permission to use this from their Archivist, Dr Simon Robbins, as a matter of courtesy.

10555203 (Ex) S/Cdr R G Heiron
Rowley Ridge, All Stretton, Shropshire.

THEY ALSO SERVE

Having been promised an infantry posting at my call up interview, I was called to the R.A.O.C. and, after military training with the Wiltshire Regt., posted to the Ammunition Section at H.Q. Northern Command as a clerk. Waging a vigorous campaign for a transfer to infantry, I was called before Brigadier Pickthal (later Maj-Gen, D.D.O.S, 1st Army) and told 鈥淩elax and sit down, I want a heart-to-heart chat鈥�, followed by 鈥淵ou are becoming a thorough nuisance with your requests for transfer, but as a frustrated infantryman myself, I understand your feelings but long ago realised that the infantry must be given the wherewithal to fight 鈥� I think you could do a great job in Ordnance, so will you try to do that?鈥� 鈥� which man- management elicited from me an enthusiastic 鈥淵es, Sir鈥� and set me on a course where nothing or no one could be allowed to deter me from my task.

Still only a Lance Corporal, I soon became a vital cog, even deputising for the Chief Clerk when he was on leave. By now a Corporal, the Chief Clerk (a W.O.I.) one day strode into my office declaring 鈥淣ow we have got you!鈥�, before explaining that he and a Staff-Sgt. had found a technicality which enabled them to put me on a charge.

I then realised the current of petty jealousy which I had endured and exploded with a threat of physical violence before hurrying to the office shared by Major Havard and Capt. Brockes to request an immediate posting and, reluctantly, they agreed to talk it over with the result that, next day, I was posted to one of our depots in the rank of Lance-Sergeant.

In late 1943 the War Office devised a new accounting system involving six cross-referenced documents which the Storeholder, (a dynamic Scot W.O.II. who became a lifelong friend), insisted on passing to me to 鈥榮ort鈥�, bypassing the over-weight and indolent Chief Clerk (also a W.O.II.) and then assuaging the ageing C.O., Capt. Daniels when he discovered that I had rejected three of the documents and devised a more practical system using the other three.

During the ensuing weeks our workload grew enormously, requiring me to devise a routine whereby we switched the contents of incoming rail wagons before re-consigning to units and formations. After about eight weeks the pressure eased and Daniels was informed of a visit by the fiery Major Havard and we had a laugh when Havard greeted him (quaking) with 鈥淚 have not come to inspect your depot, Daniels, but to thank you for the amazing job you have done in taking on all of the Command traffic whilst the other five depots sorted out the confusion caused by the new accounting system.鈥�

With D-Day long gone, I was posted to India in October 1994 and languished in totally unsuitable jobs until posted to No 2 Base Ammunition Depot. Met at Railhead by the ration Sgt. who told me 鈥淢ajor Brockes told me to look after you as you are to be our new Storeholder 鈥� he told me he would have had you made up to W.O.I. in Blighty had it been possible鈥� 鈥� which was pleasing as we had gone our separate ways a few weeks on from my 22nd birthday!

No. 2 B.A.D. was commanded by a Eurasian Colonel who had received a 鈥榙irect commission鈥� in 1942 because of his millionaire status; he was so deeply steeped in the caste system that he only spoke to fellow officers and, on the rare occasions that he spoke to N.C.Os, it was in a tone only slightly above that which he used to coolies.

I had scarcely straightened the chaos which I found in the depot when the Depot Officer, Capt. Jordan, informed me that he (but not me) had been called to an officers conference, so what would I like him to do? 鈥� my reply was to put on a grass skirt and do a Mata Hari, which he proceeded to do to huge degree, enabling me to plan for the 42,000 tons of in and out movement which this obviously vital project involved; this was seven times our planned capacity and I had only nine British N.C.Os against an 鈥楨stablishment鈥� of forty-two! Over a fortnight into the exercise, Jordan brought me a copy of the Colonel鈥檚 鈥楳aster Plan鈥� with orders to implement it forthwith, but after a brief scan I told him 鈥淪orry, Sir, but this a recipe for disaster, not only because the project is too far advanced to be reversed, but it includes such things as storing returned Phosphorous Smoke with bulk high explosive, both of which could be in dangerous condition, so my answer is 鈥楴o Way鈥�, but your orders are received and understood, Sir (saluting), so you are in the clear.鈥�

Two days later I encountered the Colonel wandering the Depot with the voluminous master plan under his arm, to be greeted with 鈥渨ho are you?鈥� before he demanded to know why his orders were not being carried out and refusing to listen to my explanation of late receipt of those orders and having to use my initiative and my promise to re-site the offending stocks as soon as the emergency was over.

In a continuing haughty tone he demanded 鈥淲hat are you trying to do?鈥�, at which I rasped 鈥淚 am trying to win this war, what are you trying to do, lose it?鈥�, and then dismissed his dire threats with 鈥淚 have urgent things to do, and if you are not away from here in twenty seconds, I will ram your teeth down your stupid bl鈥�. Throat!鈥�

I did not see him ever again but was informed by the Chief Clerk (Admin) that, storming into the offices demanding court martial papers, he was confronted by his second in command, Major Harper and, refusing to listen to Harper鈥檚 urgent counsel to drop the affair, was told by him that if he persisted he, Harper, would at once apply to G.H.Q. for a transfer, stating as the reason for his request the Colonel鈥檚 total mismanagement of the Depot. So the exercise was completed with every issue dead on time and no demurrage (24 hour) paid on a single incoming truck.

The day after completion I collapsed with nervous and physical exhaustion requiring a month in hospital and a fortnight鈥檚 鈥榗onvalescence鈥� at Naini Tal. A few days after my hospitalisation General Slim marched triumphantly into Rangoon.

Soon after demobilisation I received by post the acknowledgement of my efforts 鈥� the same two medals as my sister-in-law who served in Britain as an A.T.S. clerk.

10555203 (S/Cdr.) R G Heiron
THEY ALSO SERVE

Having been promised an infantry posting at my call up interview, I was called to the R.A.O.C. and, after military training with the Wiltshire Regt., posted to the Ammunition Section at H.Q. Northern Command as a clerk. Waging a vigorous campaign for a transfer to infantry, I was called before Brigadier Pickthal (later Maj-Gen, D.D.O.S, 1st Army) and told 鈥淩elax and sit down, I want a heart-to-heart chat鈥�, followed by 鈥淵ou are becoming a thorough nuisance with your requests for transfer, but as a frustrated infantryman myself, I understand your feelings but long ago realised that the infantry must be given the wherewithal to fight 鈥� I think you could do a great job in Ordnance, so will you try to do that?鈥� 鈥� which man- management elicited from me an enthusiastic 鈥淵es, Sir鈥� and set me on a course where nothing or no one could be allowed to deter me from my task.

Still only a Lance Corporal, I soon became a vital cog, even deputising for the Chief Clerk when he was on leave. By now a Corporal, the Chief Clerk (a W.O.I.) one day strode into my office declaring 鈥淣ow we have got you!鈥�, before explaining that he and a Staff-Sgt. had found a technicality which enabled them to put me on a charge.

I then realised the current of petty jealousy which I had endured and exploded with a threat of physical violence before hurrying to the office shared by Major Havard and Capt. Brockes to request an immediate posting and, reluctantly, they agreed to talk it over with the result that, next day, I was posted to one of our depots in the rank of Lance-Sergeant.

In late 1943 the War Office devised a new accounting system involving six cross-referenced documents which the Storeholder, (a dynamic Scot W.O.II. who became a lifelong friend), insisted on passing to me to 鈥榮ort鈥�, bypassing the over-weight and indolent Chief Clerk (also a W.O.II.) and then assuaging the ageing C.O., Capt. Daniels when he discovered that I had rejected three of the documents and devised a more practical system using the other three.

During the ensuing weeks our workload grew enormously, requiring me to devise a routine whereby we switched the contents of incoming rail wagons before re-consigning to units and formations. After about eight weeks the pressure eased and Daniels was informed of a visit by the fiery Major Havard and we had a laugh when Havard greeted him (quaking) with 鈥淚 have not come to inspect your depot, Daniels, but to thank you for the amazing job you have done in taking on all of the Command traffic whilst the other five depots sorted out the confusion caused by the new accounting system.鈥�

With D-Day long gone, I was posted to India in October 1994 and languished in totally unsuitable jobs until posted to No 2 Base Ammunition Depot. Met at Railhead by the ration Sgt. who told me 鈥淢ajor Brockes told me to look after you as you are to be our new Storeholder 鈥� he told me he would have had you made up to W.O.I. in Blighty had it been possible鈥� 鈥� which was pleasing as we had gone our separate ways a few weeks on from my 22nd birthday!

No. 2 B.A.D. was commanded by a Eurasian Colonel who had received a 鈥榙irect commission鈥� in 1942 because of his millionaire status; he was so deeply steeped in the caste system that he only spoke to fellow officers and, on the rare occasions that he spoke to N.C.Os, it was in a tone only slightly above that which he used to coolies.

I had scarcely straightened the chaos which I found in the depot when the Depot Officer, Capt. Jordan, informed me that he (but not me) had been called to an officers conference, so what would I like him to do? 鈥� my reply was to put on a grass skirt and do a Mata Hari, which he proceeded to do to huge degree, enabling me to plan for the 42,000 tons of in and out movement which this obviously vital project involved; this was seven times our planned capacity and I had only nine British N.C.Os against an 鈥楨stablishment鈥� of forty-two! Over a fortnight into the exercise, Jordan brought me a copy of the Colonel鈥檚 鈥楳aster Plan鈥� with orders to implement it forthwith, but after a brief scan I told him 鈥淪orry, Sir, but this a recipe for disaster, not only because the project is too far advanced to be reversed, but it includes such things as storing returned Phosphorous Smoke with bulk high explosive, both of which could be in dangerous condition, so my answer is 鈥楴o Way鈥�, but your orders are received and understood, Sir (saluting), so you are in the clear.鈥�

Two days later I encountered the Colonel wandering the Depot with the voluminous master plan under his arm, to be greeted with 鈥渨ho are you?鈥� before he demanded to know why his orders were not being carried out and refusing to listen to my explanation of late receipt of those orders and having to use my initiative and my promise to re-site the offending stocks as soon as the emergency was over.

In a continuing haughty tone he demanded 鈥淲hat are you trying to do?鈥�, at which I rasped 鈥淚 am trying to win this war, what are you trying to do, lose it?鈥�, and then dismissed his dire threats with 鈥淚 have urgent things to do, and if you are not away from here in twenty seconds, I will ram your teeth down your stupid bl鈥�. Throat!鈥�

I did not see him ever again but was informed by the Chief Clerk (Admin) that, storming into the offices demanding court martial papers, he was confronted by his second in command, Major Harper and, refusing to listen to Harper鈥檚 urgent counsel to drop the affair, was told by him that if he persisted he, Harper, would at once apply to G.H.Q. for a transfer, stating as the reason for his request the Colonel鈥檚 total mismanagement of the Depot. So the exercise was completed with every issue dead on time and no demurrage (24 hour) paid on a single incoming truck.

The day after completion I collapsed with nervous and physical exhaustion requiring a month in hospital and a fortnight鈥檚 鈥榗onvalescence鈥� at Naini Tal. A few days after my hospitalisation General Slim marched triumphantly into Rangoon.

Soon after demobilisation I received by post the acknowledgement of my efforts 鈥� the same two medals as my sister-in-law who served in Britain as an A.T.S. clerk.

10555203 (S/Cdr.) R G Heiron

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