大象传媒

This story has been submitted to the People's War site by Sarah Harding of Kirklees Libraraies on behalf of Douglas Smithson and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

1943 A quiet beginning to the New Year. From my diary I note that at this time I was helping to run a mine laying course for some infantry soldiers of the East Yorkshire Regiment with Sgt.Thomas and CorporalKnight, both original Territorials from Cardiff The mines were marks 2, 4, & 5. I have forgotten all about them now. Some NCO's from the Divisional Engineers had a lecture from the new Divisional C.O. He had served in Libya and most of the talk was about there. I have a note in the diary that I hoped he was not too Libya conscious as we should be fighting in France but the same entry remarks that I thought he would be O.K.

Had leave early in January and had a pleasant time at home doing the usual rounds. Then returned to Shorncliffe and immediately got ready to move tomorrow to Ripon. This we did. I was with the advance party, C.O., C.Q.M.S., Sgt. Thomas a lance corporal and two Sappers. We travelled by train, passing through London. The barracks had not changed much except by name. The block we were in was the one I was in when I joined up but instead of being Gordon was called Howard. The unit did a course similar to the one I did in 1940. I gave a number of lectures on mines again, both ours and theirs, as well as on different explosives. One new type of explosive was called the beehive and was very effective in boring deep holes into the ground and doing away with any need for the earth auger, as well as being much faster. I believe that the same system was used after the war and is still used for driving special steel nails into almost any material. The builders of my garage at Sheepridge used this type of gun to fix the facia to the steel girder over the garage door.

More training with bridging of all kinds including improvised ones and rafting. On one raft we ferried a Churchill backwards and forwards across the river Ure. I managed to get home for a couple of week-ends whilst here. On the 8th February we returned to Shorncliffe and soon we were back into the routine there. I had an interesting time lecturing to the RAF. Regiment about the Canadian pipe mine. I had gone to their base at Lymne airfield [not used at that time for flying] to lecture about elementary demolitions but on arrival was told that we had to explain about the much more complicated pipe mine, how to lay them and how to explode them. They knew nothing about FLD or the exploder or primers or detonators so the job was difficult. The lecture was not helped by the fact that I had never seen a Canadian pipe mine, never mind fixing one or exploding one. However I had a manual and was able to give them some idea of it. To the interested readers the C.P. mine was used to make areas of land unfit for planes of any type, including gliders, to land. The system of laying them is similar to that used for laying underground heating systems and drains on present football pitches.

On the 22nd February I lectured to the RAF regiment at Hawkinge airfield on elementary demolitions. It had been one of the airfields used by the RAF during the Battle of Britain. A few years ago I was in the area with my family and found that there was a small museum there. We stayed and it brought back many memories.

I had a number of days in Halifax, waiting to go on a course which did not develop, and was only there for about a week spending more time at home than on duty in Halifax. This was owing to the arrangement of guard duties at a pub near to the railway station, where we were on permanent guard, meeting trains throughout the 24 hours. I was then sent on leave and after a pleasant time went to Kirkcudbright in southern Scotland where 246 Field Company had moved to whilst I had been away. The small town is very attractive. Being the only company there, we soon got to know the people living in "Ka-coo-bree" as I was told to pronounce it. Here rationing was easier than at home and I sent a lot of soap to the family along with other things that were not tightly rationed. The beauty of the Kyles of Bute [Where we had moved to for a short time] is exquisite and something I have always remembered.] The adverse part of our stay, over the period of the 28 days there, was that it rained on 24 of them. We also had a plague of so called mosquitoes which resulted in an unpleasant time for most of us. One night I felt the need to go to the latrines and about 01-30 hours I got up and went. When I got there, I found all but one space occupied. On asking what the matter was, I got various answers mainly unprintable. One sapper informed me that it was his fourth visit. This was the first time that I found there was an advantage in being slightly constipated. [As a RAF later, it was even more of an advantage]. The parade the following morning was disorganised; out of our section of 64 men 11 were on parade. We were umpires that day, on an invasion-type of exercise and fortunately managed to cover the essential points.

Throughout our 28 days here we were always on some activity to do with landings from the sea and it became clear that the division was to have some part in any future invasion of Europe.

On the way from Kirkcudbright to Tighnaughbruaich [pronounced Tig-na-brew-ic.] we stayed on the racecourse at Ayr where the Scottish Grand National is held and most of us slept on the tote benches. We then went to Wemyss Bay and sailed to Tighnaughbruaich through the Kyles of Bute. It was a most beautiful voyage.

From here I went on a short course to Bannockburn and slept close to the burn. I was able to spend an evening in Glasgow but was not at all impressed. I probably did not know the city well enough and went to the wrong places. At the same time, I managed to visit Stirling, which I found much more interesting. The castle and its situation was very impressive. From there I returned to Bannockburn and found out that I was sleeping in the Masonic Hall. Jimmy Watts my companion on the course and I had a day in Falkirk. We were almost on holiday but I must say that the course was very good, being about the Polish Mine Detector and was quite new to us. We surmised from this that the division was in some way to be part of the invasion. Returned to Kirkcudbright and found that I was on leave as well as Jack Wood [from Huddersfield]. The journey was very interesting. Train to Dumfries and then to Carlisle Douglas where we found that we had a four hour wait. It was too long, so we got a lift from a lady in a Morris and she took us to Kendal where we had some fish and chips and then hitched to Preston. From there we went by train to Halifax, finishing the journey home by bus. Leave followed the usual pattern and I went around town usually in the company of friends from before the war; Fred and Stanley Blackburn, Derek Westin, Geoffrey Hepworth and others. Norman Metcalf was serving in Palestine in the Royal Signals and we had to make do with writing.
Returned to Kirkcudbright and got down to work again. Various activities: Laying practice minefields, putting up and taking down Bailey bridges of various kinds and often demonstrating them to Senior Officers.

8th June. A landing exercise today, using different types of landing craft. Yesterday our company had laid a minefield on the slope of the hillside about 100yds from the beach. The mines were loaded as ordered but the safety pins were left in. My section landed first and we proceeded to clear a path to take vehicles and infantry safely through the minefield, clearly marking the path with white tape. - My section had finished and were resting on the seaward side of a hedge. I was standing in front of them and relaxing. Infantry and Bren Carriers had passed through the cleared lane. The exercise was over, when a colossal bang was heard and I knew at once what had happened. A mine had exploded! I hardly dare go to the bottom of the cleared lane and look but I had to! Yes, there it was, in the middle of the uncleared part of the minefield, a Bren Carrier upside down. Our Sergeant Davis was vainly trying to lift it. I turned to the section and told them to follow me into the minefield. We were in little danger as the mines still had safety pins in and treading on them by a man was unlikely to set them off. Two Medical Officers came quickly on the scene. One private was staggering around holding his arm. Another private and a sergeant were under the carrier with the front edge of the carrier across one of the men's legs. A lifting jack was brought and the doctors were able to help the two from under the carrier. I took over making the mines safe around the area and clearing a way for an ambulance to get near. We used the detectors, lifted the mines and at the same time defused them. The Doctors had to amputate the legs of one of the men. It was a very sad ending to the exercise.

I was on the court enquiry and it seemed that the sergeant in the Bren Carrier thought that the mines were not armed and that it was O.K. for him to order the driver to steer through the uncleared part of the minefield. I never understood what he thought we had laid the mines for. There would be no point in laying unarmed mines as the time factor would be completely unrealistic. I heard later that only the private we saw staggering about survived. Walking on the mines would have been safe, because of the safety pins, although not to be recommended. A Bren Carrier was another kettle of fish.

Churchill announced that large scale amphibious operations are going to occur. That means that we shall be somewhere near the front. A sobering thought. Returned once again to Kirkcudbright and at the end of June went home on leave and had the usual round of visits. Returned to Kirkcudbright and was told that I was to go on a Commando training course to Moffat which I did and almost enjoyed it, although it was very tough. I did things that I never thought possible. The first day we had to get over a smooth sided brick wall. How we all managed it, I still do not know! We hoisted one man to the top so he could get his hands on the edge of the wall at the top. Next one man climbed on to another man's back and pushed the first one on to the top where he could sit and, leaning down could help the rest. Now with one on top we did the same for the other eight. The last to be lifted up was helped by two men on top holding a third by his legs who hung head down and grasped the last man and lifted him to the top and so over to the other side. We had then to jump down a drop of about 12 feet, which we all did without any broken ankles. .

The biggest fright we had was getting over Dannert wire [much worse than barbed wire] being two opened out-coils side by side, with a third above and between them; all wired together. The Officer in charge asked how we should get over it if we were attacking a position. The answers were many and varied, from planks to chicken wire thrown over and then walked across. Not one of these was correct. He showed us how. He borrowed a rifle from one the men. Then, standing about 20 yards from the wire, he started to run at the wire, put one foot into the wire, held the rifle with both hands spread turned a somersault and came upright on the other side of the wire. It was like a circus act but we all did it and the only injuries were a few minor scratches. Another day we went to the road near the top of the Devil's Beef Tub. The Officer asked us how long it would take us to form up at the bottom. [The slope was very steep and I did not like the idea of going down it, never mind about the time.] The shortest time put forward was 20 minutes. We were then informed that we should all be down in the bottom and formed up, in under 5 minutes. He showed us how. First to turn sideways on to the slope, then to take a sideways jump, after a few jumps, we had to turn and do the same with the other foot leading. We had a few goes whilst he put some of us to rights. We then started and in less than the 5 minutes we were all at the foot of the slope, it was easy! The last exercise was at night and we had to cross a river four times with full kit and rifle. The water was up to our chests. After that we had to climb a steep hill and attack a defended position. I have never been so tired in my life but what a marvellous feeling at the end.

Returned from Moffat and very soon I was swimming in a Divisional Swimming competition at Hawick. An Australian Officer in 253 Field Company was entertaining. He was to compete in the long plunge. L/Cpl O'Shea, of our company was in the lead with a plunge of about 32 yards This officer came along and told the judges to roll out more of the measuring tape. We all thought he was showing off as he asked for still more tape but when he got ready, we knew otherwise. He passed the leading mark still moving fast. He won easily and no wonder, as he had competed in the Olympics before the war. Returned to Teighnabruaich and had a route march round the peninsula. The scenery over the Kyles was brilliant and every time we turned a corner a new sight was before our eyes. Another invasion exercise and this time I was an umpire. At one period 25 pounders were firing over our heads. The noise reminded me of the perimeter at Dunkirk, although this time there was little danger to us.

The preparations for our invasion of Europe are regularly carried out now and we are on stunts of some kind or another almost every day.

Moved to South Wales via Preston and Brecon near the Beacons and finished up at Castle Martin near Pembroke. More exercises and now with American Grant tanks. It was great watching them firing when you could see both the tank and the target as well as the shell going through the air. Provided you were behind the tank!

27th September 1943. An important day in my life! Off duty in the evening, I was in a canteen [not N.A.A.F.I] and saw, on a notice board, a summary of an A.C.I. asking for Glider Pilots and that no person should be stopped from applying unless they were scheduled for abroad. The following day I saw Mr. Edwards our then Section Officer about a transfer who said I should have to see the C.O. Which I did but as I expected the C.O. tried to put me off at first, saying he could not do anything without seeing the A.C.I. and inferring that the A.C.I. was not in the Company Office and therefore there was nothing he could do. I asked him if it would be alright if I showed him the AC.I.. Reluctantly he agreed. So, that evening I went back to the canteen and asked the manager if l could borrow the AC.I. from off the notice board. His reply was that he knew nothing about it and as far as he was concerned it was not there. A nod was as good as a wink and I borrowed it and showed it to the C.O. He went on a course and I went on leave so I thought that I had missed my chance again. No, not this time! I returned from leave to Kirkcudbright. A packet of cigarettes to the company office sergeant and I signed a form applying for a transfer to the Army Air Corps for training as a Glider Pilot. Time elapsed and we were still on Bridging practice but on the 7th. Nov., Sunday, I was called into the Company Officer and told that I had to go for an interview in Edinburgh. A bit of a panic as my kit had not yet arrived but it soon did and I was away. Monday and I had to sit a maths paper as well as an intelligence one. More papers to fill in and then an aptitude test on a make shift cockpit. Tuesday and now before a board consisting of a Lt/Col. Wing/Co. and a Flt /Lt.. The Lt/Col tried to dissuade me by saying it was not much of a job and really like a bus driver's. The FI/Lt. said it was dangerous but when I said that I was in the RE's of the 3rd.Div., they looked at each other and said no more. [The Division was the assault division on "D". Day.] The Lt./Col. told me that I had passed and that I now had to have a medical - which I passed AI. At the end of the medical I found out what colour blindness was. Another candidate was entering the room as I was leaving and as he called out the numbers in the multi-coloured circles he said one of them was blank. As I could make out the number from where I was standing I knew he was colour blind in those combinations of colours. Returned to the unit which had moved to the edge of an aerodrome near Forres in Morayshire. As far as I remember the airfield was either Kinloss or Findhorn.I may remember later.

A browning-off time waiting! Ready for work on the 8th December, I was ordered to the Company Officer and told my haversack rations were ready. I caught the 11-55 train to Aberdeen and then to London and from there to Amesbury. From there we were trucked to Fargo on Salisbury Plain, arriving around 12-00 hours

THIS IS THE END OF MY CAREER AS A SAPPER IN 246 FIELD COMPANY REGIMENT. I AM NOW A GLIDER PILOT AND AFTER TRAINING AT A RAF E.F.T.S. I AM IN "NO 10 FLIGHT "G" SQUADRON UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR. STARTING MY TRAINING ON THE 9TH DECEMBER 1943

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