大象传媒

MY CALL UP PART TWO
So I arrived at the 61st. Training Regiment R.A.C. in Barnard Castle Co Durham, the second part of my training was about to begin, it would take me a little more than eight months to complete, but did prove to be interesting and informative, and at times quite exciting.
There was a three week period of learning to drive motor vehicles, the various parts of the motors were on view showing engine assemblys cut open with the channels carrying the different fluids petrol mixture, oil and water in bright red, blue and yellow enamels, gear boxes and differential units clearly displayed, I remember driving around outside the camp with a corporal instructor and two or three of us trainees taking the wheel in turn, our morning break was at a civilian cafe, where we purchased tea and toast, the bread we were handed to toast ourselves in front of a very large open fire, this was most enjoyable, assisting the owner in coping with all of us suddenly decending on him.
Another part of the training course was five weeks like this, only this time we drove Sherman Tanks around, it was very amusing to see the various vehicles pull out of our way as we slithered along the roads outside the camp, the tanks weighed 31 tons, most had five engines, steering by pulling a lever locked one track,the other track running on causing a somewhat ragged turn, braking was effected by pulling on two levers at the same time locking both tracks. If you were on an hard surface like cobble stones and braked sharply, the Tank would slide uncontrollably over the road surface, hence the awareness of us rookies by the locals in their vehicles, it must have been frightening, and on any icy roads it was murder.
We had various exercises and trips away, I mind on one trip we were away for a couple of days, in very wintery weather, our track had frozen solid overnight, it was impossible to free it, the remainder of the unit were to return to camp leaving us behind, pending us getting free or a Transporter coming out to us.
The boys gave us their odd rations they had, which was not a lot, as the cold weather had made us all eat more than usual, and so the others departed and we were left to make the best of a grim situation, some hours later by putting the engine in to first gear then reverse, repeating this first and reverse over and over again we heared a loud crack! and the suspension was free at last, we then made our way back to the camp very much relieved.
The next part of our training was a five weeks gunnery course, during this period we fired all manner of weapons from Revolvers, Rifles, Sten guns, Bren guns,Tommy guns, Browning machine guns, Bazookas, 75 mm cannons, and then the larger 17 pounder , all this coupled with Mine detecting, Flare pistols, Hand grenades, and Mortar Bombs.
There were minature ranges where the main guns like the 75mm were used to line up on to miniture targets when established and ordered to fire, a gun such as the Tommy gun or 22 rifle which had been strapped to the barrel of
the main gun was then discharged by another soldier sitting alongside, this gave a realistic view to the target area.
Another miniture range called the puff range took place in a large nissen hut, this comprised a main gun overlooking a mock up scene of the countryside with miniture tanks and other targets , under the country side scene a light beam moved around in unison with the movements of the gun as it was traversed on to a target, and when ordered to fire nothing was discharged from the gun , another instructor under the target areas created a small puff of smoke using a pump applied to one of the numerous holes in the scenic board nearest to the light beam, this gave quite a good illusion.
We did get on to the main ranges eventually, using live ammunition, indeed the most hair raising moment I can recall was the day we had a misfire.
The target was established and the order given to Fire!, there was just a click as the firing pin made contact but no explosion, then as per standard procedure the order to reset was given and again Fire! ...... another click and nothing happened, the next order was "Stand by one minute!" research by the army experts in the past had shown if the shell did not detonate inside the stand by minute then it is unlikely to, and it has to be removed and thrown out.
It did not go off and this indeed was a very nasty moment, the breech block was opened the shell carefully removed and handed to the tank commander who swiftly threw it outside the Tank ducking back down as he did, no it didn't explode, remaining on the range pending the disposal squad dealing with it, there were five of us in that turret and it was perhaps the worst situation any of us had ever experienced.
And so the traning continued, plenty of situations occurring every day, there was a week on "Wireless" the morse code was taught and radio telephone procedure practiced, this entailed out and about in the Tanks, dealing with the various problems that communication presented from time to time.
Most of the training program was well organized, I think the Guard proceedure needed revising I mind being on guard with just a webley 38 revolver, the ammunitition consisting of twelve rounds in a sealed package having been drawn from the stores, was expected to be handed back the next day , still with the seal unbroken! all this with a war on, had we been confronted by any aggressor, there would have been no chance to load the weapon, but as long as the brasses were gleaming the blanco evenly applied, and the boots shining those in command were happy.
I believe they thought all the Enemy was overseas, and not likely to be near us, makes me think of the Magino and Siegfried lines, where they all thought war would be fought to strict rules, nobody would dream of coming round the back way or would they?
Training was almost completed now, managed to get a job in the camps "Aliwal" cinema as projectionist my civilian trade, this got me excused guard duties, and I was quite content for a while, then during the Christmas I managed to get some home leave, guesse what?, due back on Christmas Eve! there was no reason whatsoever to impliment this, the camp at this festive time was comparatively relaxed, I had no outstanding duties, well I went back on Boxing day this resulted me being on a charge, punishment was three days stoppage of pay, plus two days by royal warrant,
whatever that meant, I don't think the lot come to more than a couple of quid, but it did lose me the chance of being on the permanent staff at the camp cinema, and hastened my posting overseas in time for the Rhine Crossing.
More of this later in the next episode of "MY CALL UP PART THREE"
don't miss it!
Sincerely
Ted Dann.

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