大象传媒

This storty was submitted to the People's War website by L. Cotterill of Congleton Library on behalf of Eric Wollaston, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

Born in 1932, father radio service engineer, middle child of 3. Father in territorial army and the fire brigade, had been youngest sergeant in T.A. Allowed to rejoin in 1937, expanded after Munich. Queues length of King's Road to join up. He was with Cossok? - 3 options, could have stayed working on feeder, could have been full time fireman, served with Surrey and Sussex yeomanry. 1st posting Sussex Cricket Ground, then billet in Brighton & Hove. 1940 Regiment sent out as part of the expeditionary force to East Africa. He was unable to go because of sciatica. He was at Woolwich. He applied for Officer training and was accepted. He was a bombadier collecting deserters and retraining them. He then went for officer training to Shrivenham specialising in light anti-aircraft artillery, particularly the Bofors gun. He was posted to various areas including Biddulph and Invergordon. Family do see him occasionally, where Americans set up at Longford Castle, Dorset. He was sent with an anti-aircraft unit until their artillery came, brought home treats - first chance to taste peanut butter, large drum of sweets. By 1943 clear no serious threat from German aircraft, he was moved to Pioneer Corps. Opted to serve with overseas unit. First posting with a Burnese unit at Barnstead, Surrey. Troops had been given sporting equipment. In 1944 sent to Italy. Joined troops from Basutoland (now Lesotho) on Adriatic with 8th Army. Used German and Italian prisoners of war. He was able to converse with them. There until the end of the war, returned in 1946 by train.
In 1939 Surbiton was not considered dangerous, children evacuated from Thanet to the area. Once Blitzstarted, air raid alerts every day. First impression of War favourable because school closed while air raid shelters were built in 1939. Junior school had to go to above ground brick shelter 3-400 yards in grounds of infant school. Some airfights during Battle of Britain, prize collection of shrapnel. Nearest bomb in daylight whooshing noise like a train, destroyed windows. Anderson shelters very unjcomfortable, tended to go to downstairs lat, slept in passageway. Quiet after the Battle of Britain. 1943 moved to Boys' County Grammar School - underground shelters there. In 1944 flying bombs - incredible noise - programmed so engine cut out and stopped over target. Authorities moved children, 1944, all family put on train - no names on stations - to Atherton, small mining and mill town, nuts and bolts manufacture. First night straw mattresses in church hall. Fearsome elementary teacher, slapped anyone who spoke. Billeting officer took family to different houses quite close to each other. Stayed with secretary of one of local mills, 2 older daughters in family. An enjoyable experience, treps arranged to look at mills and mines. Educated by teachers in the wing of secondary school. Music lesson shouted by teacher for making such an unmusical noise. Once the launch sites overrun danger disappeared, several children went home. Eventually returned home after VE Day 1945 - celebrated with bag of chips and blackpeas. Mother decided in summer of 1945 to take a holiday with her aunt in a cottage near Delabole, Cornwall - no electricity, indoor sanitation or running water. Great uncle after head injury at work enjoyed preaching in the village, thought he was a 'holy prophet' There when VJ day announced - regatta in Padstow harbour

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