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This story was submitted to the People's War site by a volunteer for CSVReading , Jim Grufferty,on behalf of John and Phyllis Chant of Salisbury and has been added to the site with their permission.

ON DUTY IN SAVERNAKE FOREST

I was first posted to Savernake forest, which was a big munitions and equipment depot during the war. On the first Saturday we were told that nobody was allowed into the forest. While on guard duty a man approached and we told him he was not allowed in and he said he had being coming into the forest to meet somebody for the past twenty years or more. Anyway he left with some grumbles and bad grace. He returned about half an hour later with a note from the Chief constable of Wiltshire. This stated that Mr Hugh Dalton war office cabinet minister had authority to enter the forest. He lived locally and was visiting friends or a lady friend I presume.

Still in Savernake forest we did occasionally get a V.I.P. visit. I was on guard duty with two other soldiers and my instructions were that nobody was to enter the forest from ten o鈥檆lock onwards. A civilian truck driver arrived to pick up some equipment or munitions and was told you can鈥檛 go in you have got to wait telling him there was a VIP visit. He said 鈥渄on鈥檛 you know there is a b war on鈥� ; put the truck into gear and drove on. The next to arrive were the VIPs. It was the King and Queen, George VI and Queen Elizabeth doing one of their usual visits to show support for the troops. We just stood to attention and saluted. I had to report to the police afterwards about the driver not stopping, but never heard what happened to him.

Another incident that happened while I was in charge of the guard. In the middle of the night, well nearer to dawn it was. I heard the sentry call out 鈥淗alt who goes there鈥� and there was no reply again there was a call 鈥淗alt who goes there鈥�, still no reply. Then suddenly there was a 鈥渂ang鈥� a shot rang out and I thought my goodness he has shot an officer must have done. I was first outside to find he had shot a big stag with lovely antlers. I never did establish whether it was shot for the antlers, as venison for the officer鈥檚 mess, or just a genuine mistake. You did not ask any questions

Still at Savernake, it was the wettest day I can remember in the war. We were in our huts having a little rest after lunch. In walked this typical 鈥淏ritish Tommy鈥� regulation mac, which served as a groundsheet and a mac, tin hat on, askew, an Enfield 303 rifle one shoulder, gas mask on the other. He was also carrying an aluminium mess tin in one hand with knife, fork and spoon in the other. Trying to have a laugh and be humorous I jumped off the bed approached him with extended hand and said 鈥淒r Livingstone I presume鈥�. You would be surprised at the reply I got. 鈥淵ou know that bd, he syringed my ears out, didn鈥檛 do a bit of good鈥�. Everybody was creased up in laughter.

Typical of how the war office worked. While at Savernake I was asked to report to Barton Stacey on my own. When I got to Barton Stacy there was about fifty of us all from different regiments, one from RE one RAF etc, some even from Scotland. We stayed there for three weeks, nobody knew what we were there for. We thought we were going to rescue somebody in Norway, that鈥檚 what the rumour was at the time. Suddenly they said all go back to you units. We never did find out what it was all about. Somebody had a mad idea no doubt. We were such a motley crew I鈥檓 not sure we could rescue anybody.

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