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The leave passed all too quickly and it seemed that in no time at all I was back on a train to Herefordshire. This was a normal R.A.F. camp so we were in ordinary billets. Wooden Huts holding perhaps twenty men, with a Corporal in charge. Training re-commenced immediately, again with the main emphasis on the morse code, but it also included the Theory of Radio — both receiving and transmitting, and getting familiar with a number of R.A.F.Radios — Semaphore and Aldis Lamp use and the methods of preparing messages for transmission.

With all the training, we had very little free time. So we didn’t wander far from the camp. Madley is an area well known for its orchards and the trees were full of fruit. We soon discovered that these apples were for the production of Cider and impossible to eat. On one occasion we had fish and chips for our evening meal and several of us questioned the condition of the fish. That night a large number of men were sick, complaining of stomach pains and upset stomachs. The sick parade the following morning was enormous, and it was obvious the fish had been ‘off’ and we were suffering from food poisoning but the camp authorities would have none of it and the official explanation for the sickness was the men eating Cider apples!

The end of the course slowly drew near, and we spent off duty hours swatting up for the tests, which were looming over the horizon. I disliked Semaphore signalling and found it difficult to read the Aldis Lamp. I wrote down exactly what my neighbour wrote! In the result I passed and with a few others reached a standard that entitled me to be promoted. I passed out A.C.1. At the same time I was issued with my posting to an operational Unit. I had been posted to R.A.F.Cardington, The Headquarters of Balloon Command. But first, I was able to enjoy seven days leave, wearing for the first time the coveted Badge of the Wireless Operator, the fist holding the lightning flash.

My seven days leave passed all too quickly. We attended the theatre several times and visited such friends who had not yet been called up. Soon I was at King’s Cross Station and on a train bound for Bedford, where Transport was waiting to take us to Cardington Air Force camp. After completing the preliminaries for joining a new Unit I quickly settled in for what I hoped was to be a considerable time. Cardington was the home of the Airships. Here they were built and tested. The R101 was built here and was the subject of a terrible accident on an early trip to France. The graveyard is still in Cardington Village.

I was put on shift duties in the Radio Cabin, where we were in Radio contact with Balloon Units around greater London. It was a surprise when I was told that I was on the strength of a Mobile Balloon Unit, and that I was off next day to Herne Bay. I was ordered to join a unit in that town but no directions were given as to the exact whereabouts it was situated. I travelled to Herne Bay by train and on leaving the station enquired where the R.A.F.Camp was situated. Nobody knew. I eventually found a Police Station and after satisfying them I was not a fifth columnist, they directed me to the Promenade and to a number of pre-war boarding houses which had been commandeered by the Air Ministry, and which held the R.A.F. Herne Bay. I don’t think I even saw a Radio Set let alone, a Radio Cabin. I never found out exactly what the purpose was for our being in Herne Bay. I did hear, what must have been a rumour, that in Canvas Huts on the Beach were special Balloons attached to some explosive, and the apparent object was to fly the Balloons into the path of German Bombers which became caught, hopefully, in the cable to the explosive, igniting the explosive, then, again hopefully, of blowing themselves up. As far as I am aware the scheme was never used.

Within two weeks I was back in Cardington, although it was again short lived as in a short while I was told that I was to join a Mobile Unit being sent to Norwich. Apparently there had been a Balloon Unit in this City, but as there had been no Air Raids there, the Unit was moved to another location. We travelled in convoy which contained a number of mobile Balloon Trailers which held the Balloon and a winch, Vehicles for the men and a Radio Truck with our Radios and supporting equipment. The inhabitants of Norwich welcomed us with open arms! We Radio Operators were billeted in a requisitioned cottage on the outskirts of Horsham St. Faiths Airfield. Within twenty-four hours we had installed the Radios slung aerials and settled in. We made contact with H.Q. and we were in business. We didn’t get one Air Raid.

Christmas was fast approaching and arrangements were in hand for the usual celebrations. But the Air Force had other ideas. I was posted overseas and sent on fourteen days embarkation leave. I was very happy with the leave but somewhat apprehensive about the posting. My Family did not appreciate it! However it was fact and had to be faced. I had no idea where I was to be sent although the Middle East was high on the list probabilities. I was spending a hectic leave and on arriving home late on the tenth day, I was told by a neighbour that the Police had called to advise that my leave was cancelled and I was to report to West Kirby forthwith! West Kirby is near to Liverpool, a port where ships to the world at large docked. It took me two days to finalise the necessary arrangements for the cancellation of my leave before I was once more at King’s Cross Station where I met a few other friends who had also been recalled. On arrival at West Kirby we were accused of not obeying orders to return as all leave had been cancelled and that we were almost too late to board the Troop Ship. We were hurried through stores and equipped with tropical clothing, Pith Helmets but when it came to issuing us with rifles, they ran out of stock! I went to war unarmed!

Read part three of this story

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