大象传媒

My father John Cory鈥檚 story from his memoir 鈥淎 Span of Years鈥� as left to the family, edited by Richard Cory. The opinions expressed here are my father鈥檚.

Arriving back at Turriaco we found a programme of Met appointments outstanding. These took Jock and I away from the troop for days on end. We had a request to supply Met to the R.A.F, station XXX Trieste.

One morning we were told to report to RHQ, to find that the CO wanted to see us. He had our records and said we had done some fine work, had we thought of making a career in the regular army? There was a chance that the 3rd. Survey would become a regular regiment and in any case there were good prospects in the other branches of the artillery. We had the technical knowledge and he considered we were good officer material.

If we decided all we had to do to start with was to agree to a six months deferment of release and he could promise that we would be made up to full sergeants almost immediately after which we would be sent on a Gunnery leader course, which would start the process.

We were to think about it for a while and our OC would be in touch. Quite obviously our privilege leave to the UK had been part of the 鈥榖uttering-up鈥� tactics.

It was quite easy to surmise that our release date from the army was not far off.

Jock and I were instructed to conduct lectures and give demonstrations over a period of five days, on meteorology, to surveyors of all the troops and this included the officers. We held the course at RHQ.

Our OC called at my billet one evening for a chat and I told him that I had found my time in the army very interesting, but weighting up all matters I had decided to return to civvy street as soon as possible. He told me he had put in for his release but could expect a delay as he had been in the territorials, eventually he would be returning to his job of school teaching.

On the 3rd November I was advised I was due for demob, this also applied to another friend, Derrick Watts. After drawing pay credits and passes we left Udine on the 13th for Villach in Austria, just over the border. We waited there for two days for a full demob train to be made up. Stopping at staging posts on the way for meals we eventually reached Calais.

On the boat over it was announced that the Polish hero, General Anders, was on board and he would be given the privilege of being the first off the boat. The lonely figure, still in battle order, walked slowly down the gangway to the cheers of all on board. At the bottom he turned and gave the Polish salute and then walked briskly into exile.

It later transpired the remnants of the 3rd. and 5th. Survey regiments were amalgamated and from information obtained in 1960 were further reduced to one territorial unit 鈥� 883 Locating Battery RA (Third Survey, Fifth Association) based in Bristol.

A train was waiting for us at the docks and this took us to Aldershot where a good meal was ready. After this it was a rush job, handing in kit, obtaining a demob suit and shoes, etc, drawing pay for leave, a pass and a travel warrant.

In the early afternoon I was on my way to Rothley, leaving the Army behind. My actual discharge date from the Army was 30th. January 1947. Quite a lot of leave to enjoy before having to face the burden of civilian life.

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