大象传媒

This contribution to WW2 People鈥檚 War was received by the Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk. The story has been written and submitted to the website by Rosalie Davis Gibb (Volunteer Story Gatherer) with the full permission and on behalf of Owen Shorten.

When war was declared on 3rd September 1939 I was visiting my aunt and uncle. They told me to cycle home as quickly as possible because 鈥渢he Germans may be coming鈥�. I had just left school and started work as a shorthand-typist in a Coal Merchant鈥檚 office adjacent to Victoria Station, Norwich.

The sirens mostly sounded when aircraft flew overhead to the Midlands. We usually ignored them, but one noisy night in April 1942 when we were under the dining room table, the next door neighbour banged on the back door. His house was on fire from incendiary bombs and it had spread to our roof. We could only watch helplessly from the Anderson Shelter as the house burned down. After staying with neighbours and friends we were given a flat until our house was rebuilt. During this same raid a full truck of coal standing next to the office when a bomb fell saved the office from complete destruction.

On 12th March 1943 I went to No. 2 Recruiting Centre, Cardington, then to Skegness for 鈥淪quare Bashing鈥�. I found myself in Class 40 at a Radio School in Hull from June to November 1943. Whereabouts in Hull was this Radio School? I recollect it was a school building with a football ground nearby. The instructors were a mixture of RAF and civilians. The people in the photograph were with me and some went with me to South Kensington. I would appreciate any information I can get.

Top Row 鈥� Cpl. Goodchild, Wood*, Howarth*#, myself, Gilpin, Forest*, Norman*, Cpl. Allen.
Middle Row 鈥� F/Sgt. Wilton, Hanson, Meredith, Gill, Perry, Murphy*#, Graham, Ashill, Cpl. Lamb.
Front Row 鈥� Mallory, Bangham, Smith, F/Lt. Bromley, Moon, Taylor, Smith.

* Came on Radar Course with me.
# Went to Sealand (30 Maintenance Unit).

The College of Art at South Kensington followed. The course lasted until March 1944. After qualifying as a Radar Mechanic I spent approximately 2 years at 30 Maintenance Unit, Sealand, Cheshire. It was wonderful working beside other Radio enthusiasts. The remainder of my service to demobilisation in March 1947 was at 218 Maintenance Unit at Colerne, Wiltshire. Two never to be forgotten trips were in a Lancaster to test Radar Equipment. The pilot threw the Lancaster around like a fighter and had been reported by the local police many times. He handed over to the Flight Engineer to land us. All went well until we lined up to approach the runway when we had to be reminded to put down the undercarriage!

The coal merchant鈥檚 office was boring in the extreme when I took up my old job and I fervently wished I had signed on for a few years, but the RAF was likewise not the same in peacetime as it was in the war.

The story has come full circle. Now that I am retired I act as a Volunteer and Tour Guide at RAF Neatishead Defence Radar Museum 鈥� this station and Coltishall nearby are in the process of closing so it is 鈥渇ingers crossed鈥� time again.

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