大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Katherine Hobart, a volunteer from 大象传媒 Radio Northampton on behalf of Leoni Seymour and has been added to the site with her permission. Leoni Seymour fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

I waited several weeks before travelling to No.1 Training Motor Transport Centre, Camberley 鈥� the building had been a boys' Prep School. On arrival we were shown our sleeping quarters 鈥� had been dormitories. We were given blankets, sheets, towels and soap. A locker stood beside each bed. We put family photographs on the top. We lined up in a big shed and were handed our kits: khaki tunics, skirts, pullovers, slacks, shirts, ties, stockings, shoes and a cap, button cleaning and shoe cleaning material and all our underclothes including pyjamas. We were also handed a small sewing kit known as a 鈥淗ousewife鈥�. We had to mark everything with our name and number. Meals were eaten in what had been the boys' dining room. Our rations were better than civilian rations. I went on leave for my twenty-first birthday. Mother had begged enough ingredients from friends to make my cake. Civilian rations were very sparse. The Cookhouse at No.1 was behind the dining room. Cooks and orderlies, who did the cleaning, wore khaki overalls and headscarves tied tightly round their heads. After a tour of the building we were told about the six-week course. It consisted of: vehicle driving, vehicle maintenance, map reading (essential) as all place names had been taken down and all signposts painted over in case of invasion, first aid, anti-gas tuition and drill. The courses were taken by trained staff. Vehicle driving was easy for us, as one of our joining up stipulations was that we had to be able to drive, but we were not familiar with large ambulances, vans and lorries-double-declutching in those days! The teaching vehicles were mounted on blocks in a field behind the house. One could drive but not move! We were divided into squads of twenty-five, headed by a squad corporal. She saw we were on time everywhere and took us for drill. Gas drill was hard. We had to run into a gas filled hut, take off our gas masks for a few seconds and then run out. The gas was obviously not lethal but frightening. Shoe and button cleaning was taught and we took great pride in our appearances. Issue grey dungarees were worn for vehicle maintenance. I disliked this session, garages were so cold! When payday came, we lined up opposite a desk where the pay officer sat. Coming to the front of the line we had to say our name and number, salute and take our pay packet, about ten shillings, with a chit for chocolate and cigarette ration. These could be bought at the NAAFI canteen. The office staff were all full corporals and sergeants. Officers too worked in the offices. Laundry was handed in once a week and collected when announced. Out of doors we had to run. We became very fit and very hungry! At the end of the course free rail travel was given for leave. Social life at No.1 was fun. Every Saturday evening we were invited to nearby camp dances. Lorries came to transport us to their camp and back to our billets. The boys handed us up into the back of the transport where we sat on the long forms provided. Coming home was more fun-we were lifted down! All drivers wore the cap strap over the crown-no other ATS was able to do this. At the end of the course we had a big passing out parade. Our parade sergeant major was the essence in smartness. We had to select our postings. I chose Western Command.

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