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When war was declared I was at Usk Farm Institute (now Agricultural College) in Monmouthshire having trained there in poultry Husbandry and became a member of staff. Within days of September 3rd 1939 an intake of 80 Land Army recruits arrived and immediately I was involved in helping to educate them, where farm life and work were concerned — not an easy task for a bashful 20 year old! Many of the girls were from towns with no experience of country ways, but appreciated male company — I can still hear the wolf whistles when any of us appeared!

Conscription was inevitable so rather than wait to be assigned to the army, I decided to offer my services to the RAF Volunteer Reserve and was accepted only in 1940. After several postings within the UK my outstanding memory is of my 3 ½ years in North Africa, a far cry from my rural upbringing and my home in Caerleon and of course, Usk.

On my 21st birthday prior to being abroad, I found myself doing kitchen duties as everyone took turns with washing-up at our base and thinking that this was no way to celebrate such a milestone in life. It was not long after this time, when travelling through the desert on patrol with other members of my Squadron, that I came near to ending it. A group of us stopped early one morning to ‘spend a penny’ and noticed a dead donkey nearby. Being curious 2 or 3 of us went to inspect it more closely not realising that it was mined. As we approached a hidden trip wire set off an explosion and I was thrown by it to the ground badly injured by shrapnel.

With no first aid at hand all that my comrades could do was to dowse me with water carried in the vehicle. My chances of survival were not good. Then, miraculously along came a jeep with American soldiers in it who quickly transported me to a hospital in Oran run by the America Medical Corps and I received emergency treatment. Sulphanilamide had recently been discoursed and this undoubtedly helped to save my life. After 4 months in this and subsequent hospitals and operations to remove shrapnel from a kidney I was eventually discharged and able to resume my duties as leading Aircraftman — overhauling and servicing Spitfires and other planes between flights, ensuring the safety of the pilots as far as was possible — a great responsibility. It was harrowing when pilots were shot down and failed to return — such brave young lives lost in the cause of freedom.

Eventually after the war ended I resumed my post at Usk but was then offered a scholarship to Harper Adams Agricultural College in Shropshire as were others returning from military service. I spent 1946 — 48 obtaining a national qualification in poultry husbandry and embarked on a career in the agricultural industry until I retired at 68 by now living in Worcestershire,

My wartime memories remain with me always and sometimes the shrapnel still embedded in my side triggers airport metal detectors!

RAF Volunteer 65 Squadron Reserve (North Africa)

This story was submitted to the People’s War website by Anthony Odell Fowler(Volunterr)of the CSV Action Desk at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hereford and Worcester. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions

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