大象传媒

War had just been declared and as a simple lad from Cornwall I decided to volunteer. The Navy was my first choice but they turned me down as they had all the men they needed, so I went next door to the RAF. The person in there didn't even look up as he told me to try for the Army. At the Army office they were only too glad to sign me up and gave me a medical then and there. However when they asked for my trade and I told them 'journalist' they said I couldn't join as it was a reserved occupation but a sergent said put him down as a journalist clerk and get him sorted.

It was still September 1939 and the Army were not prepared, uniforms were in short supply and I have to provide my own boots. However, within weeks I was sent to France, on my own, complete with a typewriter handed to me at Waterloo Station. I had had no milatary training, being excused parades because of a bad blister on my right foot. All the training I had was helping out in the sergeants' mess.

I eventually arrived at the GHQ in Arras, where I worked with kindly Major J.K. Bayley, supervising a group of clerks, being responsible for getting rid of secret waste paper, etc., and enjoyed my days off with cycle rides or bus trips and becoming friendly with local families where I often would pop round to take a bath.

I found myself on my own again after the evacuation of GHQ for Arras, but a messenger informed me to make my way to the coast. I did so after canabilising French Army cars I found in a dump. On the way, at Wimeroux, I came across a group of Army officers who gave me a lift in their staff car to Calais, where we split up. I stayed at the dockside, trying to be helpful to French families as well as rounding up soldiers sheltering in the abris. Eventually, I boarded the destroyer that brought a party of Royal Engineers to demolish cranes and other equipement.

Once I had got back and after a copule of days at Beaumont Barracks in Aldershot I was summoned to London where I assisted in interviewing Army Commanders and writing a "war diary" of the conduct of the war. Allowed to stay only in private quarters I was soon posted to the War Office to follow an organised routine...until December 1941 when I was subconded to the War Cabinet to accompany Prime Minister Churchill and Chiefs of Staff to America to discuss future strategies with the Americans. On the voyage on HMS Duke of York, the Prime Minister escorted me to the secret map room and reveled our course and the reported position of U-Boats.

I remained in America for ten months with Sir John Dill who was appointed head of the British Military Mission. I returned home at my own request and joined the secretariat serving the Chief and Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff at the War Office - Lord Alanbrook and Lieut General Sir Archibald Nye. There I had a most interesting range of duties, and in September 1944 I went with our Chiefs of Staff to Quebec where the war in the Far East was the topic. Among those attending was the reclusive Orde Wingate of the Chindites. That was my last "out of town" venture before I was domobbed.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.