大象传媒

This story has been submitted to the People's War site by Peter Tester for Kent Libraries and Archives and Canterbury Council Museums on behalf of Bill Newport and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully undestands the site's term and conditions.

At the start of the War I lived at Lower Ensdene's Farm, at Old Wive's Lees, Chulham near Canterbury. I was just 17 and working as a farm labourer, whaich was a reserved occupation. When the call came out in May 1940 for volunteers for the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) my Father, who had served in the first War, said he was going to volunteer, and I said I would as well. We went to the Woolpack in Chilham and the Policeman took down our particulars. They issued us with LDV arm-bands and, later on, with a uniform and a forage-cap with the Buffs badge.

Our first duties were guarding the road and railway bridges on the Godmersham-Chilham road, to ensure that the troops being evacuated from Dunkirk were given safe passage. We had one rifle and five rounds of ammunition between us, as well as a bayonet to fix on the rifle. We spent 2 hours on duty and four hours off.

The next week we guarded the local post office and telephone exchange, and, during the next 4-5 months we did various guard duties around the Chilham area. These duties were carried out in addition to my usual working hours: Monday to Saturday we worked from 6.15 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. At Harvest time we worked sometimes to 10 at night.

Eventually, all LDV volunteers joined the Home Guard (Dad's Army!). We were issued with proper military uniforms and we had individual weapons when we were on duty. and we were then moved to Elham in 1941. With my father, we looked after a herd of Sussex cows, pigs and arable fields as well. We did one guard shift a week, watching for enemy activity, and on a Sunday we were trained in combat by a regular army sergeant from Hythe. We learned about weapons, grenades and home-bombs. Sometimes we went to the Battle School at Beechborough to gain experience of battle conditions. By this time I was promoted to Lance-Corporal.

On one occasion, we did exercises with live bren-gun fire to get us used to being under fire. At the end of 1943 the Major wanted me to become a gardener at the big house, but I didnt want that and decided to get another job. My Ftaher and I took jobs at Lynsted between Faversham and Sittingbourne. He was the stockman and I took over the Waggoners job, with the horses. I then had to start work at 4 in the morning, cleaning out and feeding the horses, before starting work at 6.30. We had to do all kind of jobs as well as making sure the horses were fed and clean.

I stayed at Lynsted until the end of the war.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.