大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by CSV/大象传媒 Radio Nottingham on behalf of Sydney Barthorpe with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions"

When war broke out I was already a member of the Territorial Army having joined in April 1937. I was called up about two-weeks before war was declared and billeted in a chapel in Barnby Gate Newark. After a few days here more men were brought in from Worksop and other districts, so people living in Newark were allowed home to sleep. It was only later when we got more organised that everyone had to be billeted within easy reach of the drill hall.
Our drill area was in the forecourt of Newark technical college, this being an area well suited to our needs. It was on my first parade here I was pulled up for a dirty chin and that 1 had to report to company office at ]p.m. When asked why I had not shaved I replied "I have not started yet sir" the reply was "well you bloody well start from today. Case dismissed".
We did all our usual training in our few weeks at Newark, route marches, rifle drill, bayonet charging etc.. We also had a few minutes in a mobile gas chamber, with and without gas masks. I was pleased there was never any occasion to use these things! I was never able to bTeathe freely through them. When the time came we were sent to a small town in County Durham by the name of Shildon.
In Shildon I was very surprised to see some of the original line of the Stockton to Darlington railway still in reasonable condition.
We were billeted in various clubs and institutes about the town. The people made us very welcome often coming to our quarters at night bringing jugs of tea and plates of sandwiches. Some of us used to have homes to call at after midday meals because there was some talk of bromide being put into the army tea. I was still in the drum and fife band when we went to Shildon so when we were not with the company marching we were with the Bren gun on antiaircraft duties. We spent hours on the slag heap at Shildon pit and on the recreation field. These were boring uneventful times.
Once a week we used to go for baths at Shildon or Bishop Auckland football grounds, we took it in turns to use the player's baths. Bishop Auckland was only four mile from Shildon, so we went there on our off duty hours. The blackout was in operation but we did not have much difficulty finding our way about. As I did not dance it was either go to the pictures or for a pint. I made friends with some of the younger members of Shildon boxing club and they used to invite me down for a few sparring sessions. I enjoyed this as I had always been a keep fit fanatic. The army sent us on cross country runs once a week, but I think it should have been more often. To me being fit was as important as being able to shoot straight (a high profile subject in today's Army).
It often crossed my mind as to what foreign country the war might take us. I had had premonitions that I would go to Poland but as the poles had capitulated this now didn't seem possible. Little did I realise I would enter this country as a prisoner of war.
After a few weeks at Shildon, Drum Major Taylor came to me and asked if I would like to go to Divisional Headquarters as Captain Beckwith's batman. If so, I was to report to company office at I o'clock. I was pleased to accept the job and I think we got on fairly well together.
The next day I went with a driver, in IScwt truck carrying all our belongings, to Bedale Hall. Bedale was a very pleasant little town and I knew I was going to enjoy my stay here. I soon made friends and one of them George Edwards was the officers mess cook. He had been a chef aboard the Rawalpindi and had spent some time in Singapore. He was courting a Japanese girl there and when she wrote to him it was in English but every thing was in reverse. We had many hours of laughter when he read the letters to us.
Bedale was the headquarters -of the 49th West Riding Division and we of the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters were part of that division. After a couple of weeks here I was given permission by Cpt Beckwith to be dual batman to himself and Col Buist. The colonel was retired from the Indian Army but had been recalled for office duties. My duty was made simple by them both being billeted at the same hotel, the White Swan.
After two P.T parades on the lawn behind Bedale Hall I was chosen to be the P.T instructor and this was my lot during the stay there.
Our leisure hours here were very enjoyable, several of us used to go round together and there was never a dull moment. 4f the names I remember are George Edwards, Ken Stockdale Sgt's mess cook 8th Foresters, and Bob Ward 5th Foresters. Stan Ward West Yorks., a chap called Dane and Major Sugden's batman. At that time Major Sugden was the youngest Major in the British Army. The Odd Fellows Arms was our most regular meeting place. The place was run by Mr & Mrs Mace and their daughter, a fine family. They gave us a small private room all to ourselves where the family joined us whenever possible. When we did eventually leave Bedale the publican, a joiner by trade, made us all plywood boxes for our large and small packs as a parting gift.
The Red Caps were billeted in cottages just outside the hall until they were moved to other duties. So we batmen were given the cottages after their departure. We made them quite cosy and a local garage owner rented us a radio for 2/6d a week.
At the White Swan where I did my duties as batman there were three servants. Each one was trying to outdo the other to get a date with me, so I used them to my advantage. As soon as I got to the kitchen it was who was going to be the first to get me a cup of tea and a sandwich to win my favours. I often promised to take one or the other out at night but always finished up with my pals.
When Christmas 39 came most of us were due to take our leave in the new year. So Christmas Eve we really went to town, I had quite a few drinks, but still had my senses. To finish the night off we went to the top of the church and made the bells ring thirteen at midnight. The vicar must have been counting because he met us halfway down and said "I don't think this is the place for you lads." We bid him goodnight and left with a smile.
About the end of February Cpt Beckwith and I were returned to the regiment. I left with some regret as I had enjoyed myself there. On return to Shildon we were put on alert for Finland and were to Bellerby ranges for some firing practice. We stayed there five days confined to barracks area and everyone was getting a little tensed up. However, early march the Finns capitulated, probably a good thing for us as we had taken no extra training in winter warfare. After two or three weeks back in Shildon we entrained for an unknown destination which turned out to be Rosyth dockyard. We were kept hanging around the quayside for a considerable time, then we were put aboard H.M.S. Glasgow. The Leicesters who were with us were put aboard H.M.S. Devonshire. After a short stay on board it was decided we should do a little embarking and disembarking. We were put on tugs and taken out through the boom nets to H.M.S. C)rion. The sea was quite rough and we had to circle her a few times before getting alongside.
The Orion was a cruise liner of 30000 tons with two swimming pools on the upper deck. This was how we found her, in all her finery, she was most impressive. After we had sorted ourselves out in our respective cabins we went down into the huge dining hall for tea. During
this meal we heard the engines starting up and thought this is it we are on our way. After tea we went up on deck and were surprised to find we were anchoring beside the Forth Bridge.
The next day was taken up loading stores then when it looked as if we were going some where we were told to disembark. We were marched to Dunfermline where we slept under canvas for five days. From now on we were under strict security and allowed one letter home that had to be censored. The reason far us being here was that the Navy had gone out to meet the German fleet who were taking troops to attack Norway. On the return of the ships we were reorganised and our stores were transferred from Orion to H.M.S. Arethusa. Now we realised this was to be the real thing.

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