- Contributed byÌý
- actiondesksheffield
- People in story:Ìý
- Jack Gillard
- Location of story:Ìý
- RAF Spitfire Fighter Station, Perranporth, Cornwall
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:Ìý
- A4115215
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 25 May 2005
Jack Gillard, 2828 Squadron, RAF Regiment.
Stationed at Perranporth, Spitfire Fighter Aerodrome. February 1944 as a member of a Bofors Anti-aircraft gun crew.
We had been moved off the Ack-Ack site for a few days to take part in a refresher course of foot, rifle and other small arms drill and practice.
After the steady routine of the past few months on the Bofors gun site, the activities of the training course were quite hectic.
When on the gun site, we had our own volunteer cook for the 14 of us. All the food was cooked on a little coal fired stove. Whereas we now had to take our meals once again in the camp Cookhouse which was situated about half a mile away.
Our meals, many a time were very poor, due to the severe food rationing, so if it was raining we had to decide whether it was worth getting 'wet through' for.
Life on the aerodrome — In the Winter on the aerodrome, was to say the least, grim. The wind and rain made things very unpleasant and we all became somewhat depressed. I remember if someone dropped his plate — usually whilst standing in the long queue as the food was plopped on to it with a large serving spoon, a great cheer would echo around the dining room. I think it was a humane protest against the silent monotony — except for the rattle of cutlery — the greyness and exasperation of the compulsory routine in there.
But we could not really complain, many other servicemen and women and indeed civilians were suffering deprivations far worse than we were.
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