大象传媒

It was August 1939 war was imminent we all had gas masks, anderson air-raid shelters and the many school children were ready to be evacuated. Many foods went "under the counter" by the rationing. The "blackout" started, blinds and curtains had to be fitted. Road signs and placenames disappeared. Walls and sandbags were erected around most large shops, cinemas and public buildings. Larger Citys were surrounded by barrage baloons.

I was evacuated with KEGS camphill boys to Warwick but early 1940 my Father got me released from school. Back to Birmingham and much later in 1940 we moved to Wolverhampton.

There were many perculiaritys about the bombing raids, the most memorable incident happened near to my Grandparents house. A car which had been parked around the corner had been lifted by a blast and came right over the top of the row of terraced houses and landed virtually undamaged and right way up on top of a huge pile of debris.

In February 1944, when I was 17 and 3 months I volunteered for the R.N. Submarine Service and, very disppointed, they told me to try again in the september. Still no joy, and then finally I was called up and went into the Royal Navy ending up as an air mechanic Airframes and spent a fair amount of time at H. M. S. Heron at Yeovilton with 700 squadron where they trained test pilots. In October/November 1946 I was moved to H.M.S. Blackcap at Stretton where I was able to work on D.H.Mosquitos until I was demobilised in January 1947.

By this time the war was over - the war with Germany ended in May 1945 and with Japan in September 1945.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute that I was in the R.N.A.S. and I have wished many times that I had signed on, but if, but if, but if....

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