大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Sylvia Wain of Congleton Library on behalf of John Gibson and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's term and conditions.

My first experience of war was when I joined the Home Guard in Congleton, Cheshire. I was 17 years old. I was called up in 1942 into The Royal Army Service Corps and sent to Blackpool on the promenade for 4 weeks! We were billeted in a Boarding House. After 4 weeks we were transfered to the Royal Army Service Corps. I was there for a further 4 weeks, then had leave home for one week.

After my weeks leave I was sent to Halifax to Range Bank Mills for 10 days, along with 19 other men, a mixture of Officers& NCO's. From Bradford a posting came at GHQ, followed by a further posting as "A-One" man to Soltaire. The only person I remember is a Staff Sergeant-but I don't recall his name.

I was given the news that I would be posted to India and by 2 o'clock I was on my way to Shipley in Yorkshire by train, from there going on to Carlisle. At Carlisle station there were Military Police everywhere! After leaving Carlisle the train eventualy pulled into Glasgow and from Glasgow docks I boarded the Flagship Stratheden (Greenwich's biggest Flagship)there were 5000 men on board (3 from Congleton including myself). Another ship in our convoy was the Empress of Canada, on board was my future brother-in-law who was a stranger to me at this time.

The convoy left the UK on the 18 January 1943. We sailed into stormy weather-often facing a 10 force gale! The first land we spotted was the Canary Isles, from there left to North Africa. Next to Sierra Leone to re-stock with vital supplies, from there to Cape Town and onto Durban, where we spent 5 days ashore. Here we were joined by the Cape Town Convoy, sailing into Bombay during the second half of March 1943.

Our eventual destination was Dhule. Here we policed the area for 2 weeks, returning after the fortnight by train to Bombay. From Bombay we sailed to Basra, where incidentally, we recieved our first mail from home- unfortunately there was nothing for me!

Next we travelled by lorry to Al Musayyib, sleeping in tents. On arrival our first job was to go all the way back to Basra - a 5 day journey! From Basra we were asked to take a convoy of lorries on the 5 day journey to Khanaqin in order to make up a Polish Division. We then returned by train to Al Musayyib and once again the journey to Khanaqin. This was a 5 day trawl, stopping at Iraque Fort, which was at this time being attacked by Alrashid's men-the Iraques came to our rescue!

I was next given a 10 ton Mack to drive in which I had to move an Ordinance Division. The heat was intense as we travelled and I suffered from heat stroke- salt drinks were given for this condition, in fact, salt drinks were part of my diet while out in this part of the world. I was taken to a military hospital having developed a fever, after 2 weeks I was sent to Persia to recover.

My next mission was to transport food and ammunition, taking 16 days to complete every round trip, each time picking up fresh supplies. I slept in the metal cab of the lorry, and I washed my lorry off in the river Tigris. It was at this time that I celebrated my 21st Birthday on 28/10/1943.

For a while I had the chance to become an Officer's Batman (Officer's name I don't recall) driving a jeep as apposed to a lorry.

My last trip to Russia came after Christmas 1943, when we handed over the vehicles to the Indian enforcement. Until they could be given over, our Workshop company (which I had beome a member) were officialy responsible for servicing the lorries.

We were awarded medals at this time, by the Russians, but Winston Churchill refused permission for us to recieve them.
Any record I have of myself at this time are the photographs (see photographs entries) which were taken by the Arabs as we were not allowed to have cameras.

Part of the Workshop company went home on leave, but a few remained (including myself) and tranfered to Hifer. It was here that we spent 4 whole days due to a train being stranded on the local railway line and because of this I would have been awarded the 'African Star'- I missed the ceramony! The remaining Workshop company were sent home, I was sent to Egypt and given 3 days leave in Alexandria, staying at a YMCA. It was at this YMCA that I met an old school friend from Congleton- Basil Hackney.

I was sent next to 286 Company RASC General Transport. They were called 'Blue Bird' on a account of their emblem being the picture of blue bird against a white background on a circular badge.

Next I was at Cairo. We camped beside the pyramids. From here we had to move the 56 Division out of Cairo, then wait for the 7th Division to arrive by train. We slept in our lorries overnight. When the train arrived, I was postitioned just outside the gate. The first to come out were the Congleton T.A. who had been in action in North Africa.

While I was at 286 AML HQ Officer's Training Course centre I was told I was being posted to Greece, but instead I was sent to 285 company HQ at Suez.

Two detachments were split between Cairo & Phernara. I was posted to Phernara. It was here that I aquired a 10 Leyland lorry complete with its 5 ton trailor both having canopies. I had to load up New Zealand lamb.
I had to leave Adabiya at 2am and my orders were to get the lamb into a freezer at Cairo by midday!

At my time at Phernara I was manager for a while at a canteen that was financially in trouble.I was here for 2 months and managed to get it "back on track". I chose my replacement before I left. I was asked to return at a later date but by that time I had been demobbed.

On my return to the UK I went to a Transit camp near Hull up to September 1946.

I was officially demobbed on 7 January 1947.

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