- Contributed byÌý
- ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Learning Centre Gloucester
- People in story:Ìý
- Desmond Keith Wilks
- Location of story:Ìý
- Nottingham; Rhodesia
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:Ìý
- A8086962
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 28 December 2005
Double shorts: Desmond Keith Wilks as a Boy Scout firewatcher in 1940 and RAF air crew in 1944 in Africa
I was 14 when war broke out. In 1940, the first picture, I was a firewatcher with the Boy Scouts in the UK. We were issued with tin hats and a slightly better gas mask than the basic civilian type.
In the second picture, taken in 1944, I was RAF air crew in Africa.
Between the two I did duty as an RAF motor transport driver and a 30mm Oerlikon gunner on the armed Merchant Cruiser Caernarfon Castle.
In 1943 I joined the University Air Squadron in Nottingham and was then posted to Rhodesia as a flying trainer.
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