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By Ex 567335 5th and 1st Btns Sgt + W.O.2 ‘The Somerset L.I’ (Pn)

I was 18/19 in June 1939, earlier that year seeing war approach joined the T.A!
On September 1st we were called to ‘The Colours’ and started training with route marches etc.
We were at Tiverton, Devon for the ‘Breaking In’ after which we had what I decided as a ‘Cooks Tour’.
It was just before Christmas 1939 I was sent off on an arm course, and passed the exams with a high quality report, on my return to my company the 5th battalion I was promoted to Sgt Instructor of Musketry and other weaponry used by the infantry: Lewis Gun, Light Machine Gun, Ante Tank Gun, Hand Mortar etc, also added unarmed combat and use of the Bayonet, this was covered by various courses in which I completed with more experience than I had but still got high quality results.
We moved to Weston Super Mare earlyish in, and we were called by bugle to return to Billets, the destination was France.
But something over there had gone wrong, our convoy was stopped in Ashford Woods, later we were told that with another of our battalions we would be moving to the coast line, Appledore, Lydd the Dungeness.
It was at a time of German bombing we stayed there for 9 months, but managed because of training to avoid the serious troubles, of course there were injuries, 2 fatal.
At Dungeness perforations made by the RE meant miles of Darnert Wire Personal Bombs without record of placing! Frying Pan Mines connected to various things in vacant chalets and some empty chalets booby trapped! One soldier was killed.
We left on November 5th to end up at Featherstone, Clickworth Yorksire then back to Colchester and other places.
I took a street fighting course, then instructed! At Westham took three Martar courses, then instructed, and then later we were joined to the 21st army group and did a years entensive training in Northen Ireland, and took a further course on handling of weapons at Castle Wellen and Mourne Mountains.
Returning to England in Jan 1944 i took a part in Army Film 'Methods Of Instruction', then i took another course, a sniper course at Arundel Castle. To take on instruction that would be snipers for D'Day.
It was then that the Battalion became almost an empty shell, and i decided to go on a draft to be given a chance to improve myself! I suppose i was the best equipped to cope with this - But!- somw of the draft and i when lined up to join 'The ? in Burma was stopped when we were sent to the North West Frontier to join the 1st battalion Somerset Light Infantry(PA) also get a promation ending up as C.S.M of a Company ????????? but in two months we proved ourselves the best! In all things!

One thing I missed! I with two other sargents were sent to Cardigan Balloon Station, to instruct on defence also fieldcraft, whilst there i passed Air Crew exams to be trained as i pilot but the regiment had other plans! and stopped my transfer!
NO DOUBT THIS AT LEAST SAVED A LIFE

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