大象传媒

This story was submitted by Linda Nicholson(nee Dixon) on behalf of Reg Dixon(my dad) with his permission. The author fully understands the site`s terms and conditions.

My story begins in 1944 when I was told I was being posted overseas. At that time I was serving on an airfield near London after previous postings at Maintenance Units and airfields in other parts of England and Scotland for the previous two years.
One morning on reading D.R.Os( Daily Routine Orders) I found I had to report to the orderly room, where I was told to get my kit sorted out and to be ready to leave on seven days embarkation leave. I collected two travel warrants, one to get me home to Cumberland and one to return to the RAF dispersal centre in Morcambe.
After my weeks leave with my family I duly arrived at Morcambe to meet up with hundreds more RAF personnel where I was given a civilian billet for the next few days.
In the mornings we had the usual parades and roll calls, we had to have vaccinations and be re-kitted out. Rumour was spreading that we were going to Italy, but nobody knew exactly because we were never told, simply because in wartime `CARELESS TALK COSTS LIVES` and `WALLS HAVE EARS`.!!

On the day of departure we left by troop train and arrived on the docks at Liverpool and gathered in a large warehouse next to where a large ship was berthed. After roll call we boarded the Monarch of Bermuda. We were told it had been an American cruise ship, converted to a troop ship, and we would be part of a large convoy. We spent the night on board on the docks, however on getting up next morning we were told to disembark to the warehouse again, as one of the engines had blown up.(as they put it.) But we then were ordered to hand in parts of our kit which was replaced with tropical kit. We were then sure we were going to the Far East or Middle East.
Next we moved to another dock and boarded the Franconia, but by this time the main convoy had left and we put to sea on our own apart from an escort of two frigates.

The sea voyage, which lasted ten days, was very momentous, and eventually we were informed Port Said was our destination.
The worst part was sailing through The Bay of Biscay, with its rough seas. Sometimes the propellers would speed up as they came out of the water, because of the pitching of the ship in the high waves. It was a releif when we reached the Mediterranean, as the sea was calmer. We passed through the Straits of Gibralter at night and could see the lights of Morocco in the distance.
I was hoping the journey would be over soon as the days and nights on board were very boring. I spent most of the time standing at the rails, scanning the horizon for U-Boats.

When we arrived safely at Port Said, it was daylight and the native boys were there to meet us in their small boats, wanting us to buy their water melons.
After disembarking we were transported to the RAF dispersal centre in the `Canal Zone`, as it was known, and after two or three days there my name came out and I was to be posted to 77OTU, Operational Training Unit, which was in Palestine.
We were training Air Crews there for the Far East War, and we were using Wellington Bombers. I was part of the ground crew, working as an electrician.
After the end on the European War, we were told our airbase was to close and we would be posted to various parts of the world, but after air training had stopped, my name came up to be posted to Middle East Air Force HQ, which was in Cairo. That was in mid-1945 after nearly twelve months in Palestine.
When I got settled in again, I was given a job of maintaining the Staff cars, among others, the Caddilac used by the C.O Middle East Air Force, Air Marshall Sir Charles Medhurst. This was to be my job for the next eighteen months, until I was de-mobbed in 1947, when I returned to my family in Unthank, Gamblesby Nr Penrith, Cumberland.

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