大象传媒

After six weeks basic infantry training by the KOYLI near York, we were transferred to an empty woollen mill at Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield.

The first two weeks were devoted to endless fatigues, creating a Signals training establishment from an empty building. Classrooms filled huge empty floors, kitchens and dormitories were constructed, and finally we began training as wireless operators.

Learning to transmit and interpret the Morse code occupied hours every day. Each man had a key and earphones, and the instructor could switch to every position to overhear our efforts. Speed increased daily, including punctuation signs and many technical signals.

Other 'lessons' included the theory of wireless, map reading, Signals organisation, etc..

After a few weeks, we began to go out on 'schemes' -going out in 15cwt. trucks over a wide area, looking for locations identified by six-figure map references. Here we 'set up shop', tuning to the control set at base, and sending and receiving messages both by R/T and W/T. The voice messages had frequently to be spelt out, using a phonetic alphabet that has long since disappeared.

It was not unknown for a truck to get lost, and to turn up, quite by accident, at Nont Sarah's Inn, where bacon, eggs and chips could be had at any hour.

After 'school' hours, it was only a fifteen-minute bus journey into Huddersfield, with its welcoming pubs and restaurants. And it was surprising how our weekly pay of 17/6d - about 85 pence - sustained this modest lifestyle.

On one occasion, the entire routine was abandoned for a day. Fatigues proliferated: oilcloths to be laid on bare wooden tables, loudspeakers arranged, giving forth 'Forces Favourites', special meals prepared - and, most bizarre - 3-ton trucks sent out into the glistening countryside to bring back loads of pure white snow, which was carefully distributed over the dirty stuff at the main entrance. The reason? A quick visit by the Princess Royal, who hurried round accompanied by a bevy of red-hatted staff officers. Immediately afterwards, everything except the snow disappeared - only to reappear at the next establishment on the visiting list.

When we began our real war (most of us went out to join the Eighth Army) our training stood us in good stead. Our Morse speeds increased with endless practice,reaching 34 words per minute or more. But we had a lot to learn - particularly about living and working in the Western Desert, and surving the long battles of El Alamein and the pursuit which followed.

(OWL = Operator, Wireless and Line)

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