大象传媒

By now, I was anxiously anticipating news of repatriation. My overseas tour had started in November 1941 and I could thus hope to be in the boat by the end of 1944. I had started by loving India. I ended with a love /hate relationship which seems to be the common experience of most white Britons. My overseas tour had been, at the same time, the unhappy time of my life, the most exciting, the most dangerous and a tremendous experience I could never forget or regret. The friendships I made were mutually sustaining and from the "NICE" British in India I received much pleasure and help. When your life has been in danger and you have experienced what it is like to be "without", when you have been cut off from loved ones and when you have been subjected to differing ideals and ways of behaviour, it is not to be expected that you will come back home the same person you were when you left. My religious beliefs were in tatters. All the business of a Divine Being who even watches over a sparrow could hardly stand up to my experiences of the Bengal famine, not to mention every day Indian life. A man who was "Right Wing" politically couldn't survive with the same beliefs in view of the inequalities and class bias of the forces, politics and wealthy colonials - and the often incompetent and appalling leadership of those "born to lead".

So! Eventually the call came and in November I was back in Barrackpore briefly for the formalities of repatriation. From here, another four day rail journey to Bombay. Then a week of waiting at Worli camp and then through the "Gateway to India" and on to the "MOULTAN" and farewell to India.
Two things above all I remember about the "Moultan". One of its funnels was much bigger than the other and the other thing - the bread - newly baked daily - wonderful!

Across the Arabian Sea into the Red Sea where I symbolically threw my Topie overboard, and into the Gulf of Suez.

Of course, nothing goes straight forwardly in the forces and at Port Taufiq, just before we entered the Suez Canal we had to change ships. We were now on the larger and more modern "Strathmore" but not as comfortable as the "Moultan" and with a less efficient baker.

Through the Suez Canal, with the curious illusion that we were moving through the desert without any water around, and on Christmas Eve we arrived at Port Said. Christmas Day laid up but no more shore leave. Then, on again - the roughest sea of the journey was the Med. - and New Years Day in Gibraltar. No shore leave again. Not that we really wanted it. We didn't want to risk being left behind.

1945

Finally, dear old Liverpool again. Rows and rows of terraced houses soon to be demolished. It didn't really look much more spick and span than Bombay - and the pale Wintry light made it all so grey and colourless. But! We were safely home and would be with loved ones in a very short time - the greatest event in an eventful three years.

Nothing of real interest took place during the rest of my Airforce Service which was to drag on until the end of the year. The war was still on in Europe - which was very apparent when I spent part of my disembarkation leave in London with Betty. Hitler was trying a final desperate throw with his V2s.

When I returned to duty it was in Liverpool (Woolton) past Penny Lane. Overseas, we hadn't enjoyed tales of profiteering - black marketing, and highly paid overtime for those privileged to stay out of the forces. Some of us were lucky in so far as our jobs were guaranteed on our return to civilian life - but that didn't mean that we hadn't been passed over for promotion by those lucky enough to stay at home. Invariably we returned to the same job that we held four or five years before. Unlike those returning from the 1914-18 War, we had few illusions and whilst we may have hoped, we didn't really expect a better or fairer world. Class, privilege and money ruled supreme as before and as it still does today. High wages and overtime had made many stay-at-home workers greedy - and Union Leaders power happy. Some attempts at a better World were made - the Beverage Report was accepted with modifications and reforms giving pensions, a Health Service, and certain Social Security benefits. This seems to have proved an embarrassment to the Capitalists who could find no profit in it and since 1980 Mrs. Thatcher has done her best to liquidate these benefits.

Moral decline was soon apparent. I was in private billets in Woolton (Mrs. Cain). The signals hut had done useful work when times were difficult in the North West Approaches, but was no longer really busy. The Sergeant I/C had an office in the hut with camp bed where he spent the nights with one of the WAAF W/OPS whose only other duties seemed to be to make tea. One night the Sergeant said I could go back to my billet as we had more staff than was needed. Returning unexpectedly, I caused an almighty cuffuffle. After some delay, the door opened and I saw that the younger daughter had an American visitor. Going upstairs I found that my hastily made bed was still warm and under the bed was a packet of condoms.

1945
Came the end of the European war and a celebration service at Liverpool cathedral. So far as the great majority of people were concerned this was the end of the war. Few gave more than a passing thought to the Far Eastern Theatre of war - but then, they never had. Not surprisingly, those of us from overseas found it impossible to join in the VE Day celebrations. We were, I'm afraid, out of touch with things and thought in England.

I mustn't give the impression that I hated my spell in Liverpool. As a City it has always been interesting and had much to offer. It was, after all, within easy reach of home and for an airman starved of music there were the Liverpool Philharmonic concerts.

I suppose the RAF didn't really know what to do with those of us returning from overseas. Most British RAF stations were comfortably staffed by men and women who had been there for some time and looked on us as a threat to their "home" posting. Naturally, we were got rid of as soon as possible and a large majority of us found ourselves back at Compton Bassett on an advanced Signals course - this with the European war already over. It was just a time wasting exercise and we were all pleased when it was over. With the Japanese finally defeated I was sent to Kirkham 101 Dispersal Centre to be demobilised in December 1945.

Here, I was issued with my demob suit (free) and given the necessary documents for me to take my place in the civilian world. My release date was 11-12-45 effective after 94 days leave on 15-3-46. I had, by this time, come to earn 7s/9d per day in the RAF. So now I was a civilian complete with Ration Book and clothing coupons, and we had once again made the country safe for capitalism and private enterprise.

As a reward for my services to King and Country I later received four medals (cupro-nickel) and the appropriate ribbons:
庐 The 1939-45 STAR
庐 The PACIFIC STAR
庐 The BURMA STAR
庐 The WAR MEDAL

Needless to say there was no money payment with any of these. I presume I was also entitled to the DEFENCE MEDAL but it wasn't included and I didn't feel it was worth making a "thing of". In any case, Betty has one, so there is one in the family.

Even so, the awards seemed to be grudgingly given. I was informed that it is not allowed to wear both the PACIFIC and BURMA STARS at the same time. I was given a small silver rose emblem to wear on the ribbon of the BURMA STAR which indicates that the wearer is also a holder of the BURMA STAR.

How do the Royals and all the bigwigs manage to have so many rows of medals and ribbons?

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