大象传媒

I was a member of the TA before World Ward 2 and was called up immediately Britain declared war on Germany. I was stationed initially at the Fonthill Barracks in Aberdeen. I joined the Royal Corps of Signals and was subsequently stationed at Catterick and Aldershot, before being sent to France in 1940. I was among those fortunate enough to reach Dunkirk safely and was rescued from the beach there along with countless other servicemen. I returned to Aldershot, then Catterick and was posted abroad again to Egypt, outside Cairo, where I remained until the end of the war, working on communication lines to Malta.

I was very interested in the recent TV series on Dunkirk. It brought back many memories and I felt it was a very well made series. I think it is important that future generations are kept aware of the events of both World Wars. I contributed to this website because my family have always said I should make a written record. I like the idea of recording the thoughts and feelings of the people who were at home, and of the ordinary servicemen and women who were serving at home and abroad. I wanted to tell my story simply, as it was, without bluster and bluff or exaggeration. Army service accounted for a period of 6 years out of my life as a young man. Before I was called up I had never been out of Scotland. Suddenly I was away from home, sent to England, then France, then on to Egypt - to places I had only seen on maps or vaguely heard of previously. The experiences and the discipline of Army life, the experience of being at Dunkirk, and of being posted overseas for such a long time played an important part in shaping my character and the way I have lived my life since.