大象传媒

This story was written by my father whilst undergoing treatment for his wounds and his nerves on the advice of the matron of Sutton Hospital in Surrey

In the year 1936 I felt I must do something in H.M. Forces as my Grandfather, Father had served in the Army, my Mother also was brought up in it my four Brothers served in the Navy, so I decided to join the RAOC T.A.
I had almost completed my four Years when War broke out. Iwas then called to colours the First of September 1939.
I went into Training at Tidworth for about two months & then I was drafted to Aldershot into another Unit the Forteenth Army Field Workshop RAOC.
A bit more stiff training and getting our equipment together & Workshop etc all ready for going abroad. We stayed at Aldershot for about six weeks and then we moved of to Crondall a Village just outside of Aldershot.

I was fortunate by going Home for seven days Christmas leave, I told my Wife that I was going over to France & my biggest dread was to be taken Prisoner and if I should I would something so that they would not keep me alive.

On January the seventh 1940 we moved off with all the Village People cheering us off.

We arrived at Southampton we got on the Boat and at two in the Afternoon six Troopships departed for France escorted by Destroyers.
We arrived at Cherboug the follwing day about noon, we disembarked and marched to the Station where were given a very rough meal, we were glad of it, we got into a train and waited until it was dark before we made a move, we travelled all night until we arrived at Mons we stayed for a week living on Bully Biscuits we were then moved up to the Belgium Border a place called Carr....six Kilos from Lille.

Things were very quiet up till May the tenth when Jerry started his push into Belgium, I was Guard Commander that night when we had our first Air raid warning, he was very active that day. I saw for the first time a Jerry Bomber brought down by one of our Fighters that was a thrill for me.

During the next few days things were pretty hot & plenty of troop movements.

It was on a Friday morning a week after Jerrys push, we paraded rather earlier than usual and we were told to get all packed up & Lorries ready as quick as we could. All the fellows worked hard that day, we finished at nine at night with all the Lorries ready and in line down a side street.
We then paraded again for a few more instructions & told to get things packed up at the Billets & sleep in our boots in case we had to move during the night.

Next morning still found us there everybody confined to Billets and doing odd jobs.
I was sorted out for guard from two in the afternoon. I was used to it for I have done one every week since being in France, so that meant no sleep for me that night not that I had much the night before but I was feeling fairly fit.

We had rather a quiet night and still waiting about we were all wondering where we were going. I did not know then it was a retreat.

It was about ten in the morning when they all paraded for a route march, they got us outside marched down the road a little way when they about turned & came back, they had to get their things & go round to the Lorrys, moving at last I thought. Of course the Guard was the last to leave and that was an hour later.
We were dismissed and we had to find a lorry for us, all we could get was a Lorry carrying gallons of Petrol. I was hoping that we would not get hit with anything.

I was sent back to the Billets to collect a few things that was left behind with some of the lads. I went to the top of the building and what I saw made me hurry away from there quick as I could, for Jerry was dive bombing the other end of town.

After a while we returned to the lorry鈥檚 and Jerry spotted us in this side street we lay flat as he was dropping bombs as I lay under cover I heard a Youngster screaming I run out caught him and put my tin hat on him and layed there beside him until it was all clear. They dropped a few bombs around it would have been more if it had not been for our fighters which went into the attack they brought down two in flames we were saved by our fighters that time.

We waited about all the Afternoon after having a nice meal consisting of Bully and Biscuits.
The French People treated us well that day they brought round wine and Biscuits etc. It was about five when there was a roar of Planes overhead and a rattle of machine guns a good old dog fight was in progress, I saw two come down and a third flew just over our heads with a Jerry on his tail, I saw tracers leaving the Jerry embedding themselves in our Fighter.

Well I guess our C.O. had seen enough for that day so he decided we should move while the going was good,so at six we moved off with a Convoy of about thirty Lorry鈥檚 People in the Town gave us a cheer as we moved off.
There were Hundreds of English Soldiers sitting about the Streets looking fagged out as theyonly came in that day. Most of the Townspeople were standing at their doors wondering what was going to happen next. Our progress was very slow owing to Refugees on the Roads they were packed with them in their Cars and in Horse drawn Wagons with as many as could get on others walking with Prams old and Young it was a rotten sight to see them with just a few belogings at times we had to stand hours waiting for it to get cleared a bit before we could move and as darkness cameon things were worse than ever we were bombed from all quarters, it was a proper nightmare just like a brilliant Firework Display,there must have been Hundreds killed that night, our Convoy escaped without any damage.

At dawn we arrived at St. Omer still on the Belgium Border where we concealed ourselves in some woods, this was on the Monday.
The day passed peacefull enough only a few Jerry Planes flew over without noticing us as we were well under cover.
The next day I was up early as I could not sleep very well cramped up in a Lorry and laying on Petrol tins. At nine we all Paraded and they asked who had fired a 303 to fall out, there was as many as twelve out of over two Hundred. I was one of the twelve worse luck. I was ordered to walk around the woods and shoot at anything I thought suspicious. I was doing that till Dinner time. About one in the afternoon there was terrific Gunfire in the distance we were told that Jerry Tanks were coming our way we barracaded the gates up of these woods as there was a wall all round, so every Man was posted around about twellve yards apart. I was posted over the far end facing a field and overlooking the Town which was a mile away.
The Gunfire was getting louder and the Tanks were in veiw. I felt rotten because I could do nothing with just a rifle they seemed to come at us very slow but they were still a good way off, it was agony waiting, then all at once the Gunfire ceased and the Tanks moved off in another direction much to our relief, but we stuck to our posts in case they came back that way.

A little later there was another terrific dogfight overhead and several came down in flames but dog fights were rather interesting then they dont last long.

I was relieved for tea and back I went, I had not been there long when I heard roar of Planes coming over and one of our chaps went out in the open to see what was coming, he shouted out Oh-look and dived under cover I stood there and waited and over they came dozens of them dropping bombs everywhere. I stood under a tree wondering if I was going to stop one, what a sensation with Tank first then Planes plastering us, they flew over and still we were again lucky without any damage done.

Evening came on the S Major came round and told me to remain there all night on my own on guard, there were others posted around thirty yards apart and what a lonely job standing there we dare not smoke, much to my regret.
It grew dark, everywhere was very quiet except for a Nightingale in the trees to keep me company. We had a Sargeant keep walking round to see if we were awake. He decided to get down near me and have a nap which he did but for long. It was about Midnight when I heard a whuff of a long range Gun and a whizz of a shell go over and then another crashing in the Town.
I woke up the Sargeant, My God he said I am glad you did wake me, and off he went on his rounds. Jerry kept that going for three hours without a break until he had smashed the Town right up and from where I stood I saw everyone fall, the Nightingale still sung on.
It was about four in the morning Wednesday when I heard somebody calling me in the woods I went over, it was the Sargeant telling me to get my things together as we were on the move and not before time I thought as we had had a basinfull that day.
I hurried to where my stuff was I was delayed a bit because my blankets had to be rolled up. I packed it up slung it on my back and run to where the Lorries were but to my horror they had gone and no sign of them. I raced out in the road, I saw them they had stopped further down owing to a Lorry breaking down, lucky for me I got on the nearest one and after a bit of trouble we were on the move again.
We got on the main Calais Road making good speed, there was still plenty of Refugees on the road.
We had another halt further down owing to a Lorry conking out again we could do nothing with it and standing in the road when it was light is far too risky so we left it behind.

Our Dispatch Riders went on ahead to see if the way was clear, they was not gone long, they back with the news that Jerry Tanks were further down the road and also Lorry load of Infantry. We had only left that other place half an hour before so we had moved six kilos.
The O.C. went away to find a place we could hide ourselves until night when we might be able to do something.Ten minutes later he came back looking very worryed and ordered us to turn round and follow him.

We went round a small turning and turned in what seemed a long Drive leading up to a large House which was occupied by French People.
We concealed ourselves and the Lorrys under the trees as much as we could so that we should not be seen by Aircraft.
The S.Major came round and warned anybody that was seen out of the cover of the trees would get shot. But nobody need to be told that as they had just about enough of it.
We had only been there about an hour when Tanks were seen again we were hoping they had not seen us, we could do nothing only stand behind trees and wait. I thought I should have been able to have a sleep as I felt just about done up with the want of it.

The Tanks however did not trouble to come our way, they carryed on with more important business than to be troubled with us knowing full well we were trapped.

The morning dragged on with nothing happening, only rain which did not improve the Chaps spirit as we walked round on the lookout.
We had a small dinner as rations were getting low, although it nwent down very well it certainly livened me up.

About one in the afternoon I went back where I were before Dinner and sat down under a tree hugging my rifle between my knees, that was a bit too much for me I fell off to sleep.
I had been asleep about half an hour, when I was awakened with a terrific repIort from a Gun. I jumped up with a sweat on. I felt a bit shaky waking up like that but it soon wore off. I grabbed my Rifle I released the safety catch pulled back the bolt to find it was jammed it was no good, somebody had taken mine while I was asleep and left me with their dud one.

Meanwhile Jerry was outside pumping lead into the woods. I had to find my
Rifle so I went round looking to see who had taken it, I could do nothing with the one I had, I went everywhere looking at everybodys Rifle at last I found it much to my relief.

I went where the firing came from I saw Chaps rushing here and there they told me to be careful as our own sarjents were firing at anything they saw move, it was a good thing they were poor marksmen as some of us chaps I am afraid would have copped a paI got to where the firing was coming from to have a go, I could see nothing, Jerry was well concealed.
It was only suicide standing there as one Fellow after another kept going down, we were wondering who was next, even then I had not fired a shot like a good many more as we could not see anything to fire at.

I had forty rounds of ammunition I did not like the idea of wasting it as I did not know how soon I would want it. Well things got too hot in that place as we kept losing Chaps so we were ordered to move back a bit more nearer the House which I see the People by now had gone. Jerry saw the move and he ceased firing. We waited then for him to show himself but he did not. We waited then for him to show himself but he did not.
One of our Chaps thought he would have a look round the house, he was on a landing when he heard somebody coming down the stairs, he waited until he showed himself to see who it was he did not recognise him as the light was bad, so he gave him the order to Halt but he still came on so he fired. This Fellow tumbled down the stairs at his feet he rolled him over to see who it was he then had a shock to find he had killed the French Officer we had with us acting as interpreter. He reported what had happened to the C.O. he only nodded and said that was alright but be more careful another time.

Everybody got in places under cover where they could have a go at Jerry if he showed up. I went into a rather an high building. I found Chaps at every window with Rifles poking out. I made for the roof, I knocked out some of the slates with the Butt of my Rifle and looked through. I could see a long way from here. I saw in the distance a large Convoy along a road. I wondered who they were as it was too far off to see.
I went down and reported what I had seen, an Officer came up with field glasses even then we could not make out who it was. So one fellow vulunteered to go and see, it raised our hopes a bit, he went on a motor Cycle but he failed to return, so two more took a light lorry to find out and they never came back. Meanwhile the Convoy had stopped, one huge long column so we put it down that they were Germans our hearts sank and there were still Jerry outside was quiet and we could not see them.
At last the Convoy in the distance moved off with Tanks in the front followed by Infantry.

I was getting fed up like the other chaps, I went up to a Captain and said why dont we get going and take a chance as it was hopeless waiting here. He said go and mention it to the O.C. as he could do nothing. I did not like the idea of that as he was walking around like a madman. So it was about seven in the evening when they decided to do so.

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