大象传媒

This story was submitted to the Peoples War website by Karolina Kopiec from the 大象传媒 GMR Action Desk on behalf of Mr John Prior and has been added to the site with his permission
Musician John Prior from Leigh was called up two weeks after his 18th birthday, in December 1944. After initial training at Ballykinla, near the Mountains of Morn, he went into the Royal Army Medical Corps and for the next 18 weeks trained as a nurse until the RAMC Number One Big Band discovered his prowess as a drummer. 鈥淭hey called me to play percussion and tubular bells. Then they brought a form for me to sign which would have involved me signing on for five years. I refused and they kicked me out 鈥� it was back to nursing.鈥�
It was also back to a more regimented lifestyle. At Netley Hospital, Southampton, John worked as a nursing orderly until he contracts dermatitis. Unable to go back on the ward, he was given further training to become a clerical assistant. In the meantime, he had formed a band and someone important heard them play. 鈥淲e did an audition for George Black, a famous impresario of the time and we went into Stars in Battledress, the Army equivalent of ENSA,鈥� John recalled.
His musical career took a different direction when the conductor, Eddie Hooper, took ill. He went from drumming, at the back of the band, to fronting it, at the age of 20. 鈥淭he band manager sent for me. There was a white suit hanging up and it was made clear to me that if I didn鈥檛 get into it I鈥檇 go back to being a soldier.鈥�
Like his bandleader son Andy Prior, John took naturally to the baton, but more was in store. 鈥淪ingers used to come out to perform with us and Win Henderson of the Henderson Twins arrived. She told me I had to sing with her. It was shock news but I did it 鈥� we sang 鈥淥pen the Door, Richard鈥�. After that I started singing.鈥�
Later, stationed in Germany and Austria with Combined Services Entertainment, he appeared in various shows, including pantomime, once acting as understudy to comedian Joe Baker. After the war, but before being demobbed, John was called on for the important work he ever did as a soldier.
鈥淲e were in Vienna and for a week, six of us were required to guard German prisoners day and night, who were being tried for war crimes. 鈥淎t night we were only allowed to give them a blanket- nothing to sleep in- in case they tried to kill themselves before the trial. All of them blamed the camp commandant and he was unrepentant.
鈥淎 barrister and chief of police came from England. At the end of the week, when five of them had been sentenced to death and one was sent to an asylum, the authorities sent for Pierrepoint, the executioner. We had to measure and weigh the prisoners for him. The commandant鈥檚 wife and two sons arrived after he was sentenced and she asked that her sons be allowed to see their father before he was put to death, but the answer, from a man younger than me, was no. I thought they could have done it for the sake of the boys.鈥�
Both barrister and police chief went to see John Prior in his show before returning to England. Shortly afterwards, he received six photographs of the courtroom taken during the trial, with the message: 鈥淗ope you enjoyed our show as much as we enjoyed yours鈥�.

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