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From January 1939,until the end of August 1939 I was a wireless operator (aircrew) with the School of Air Navigation at R.A.F.Station Manston,Kent. During the last couple of weeks of August 1939 there was a sense of tension in the air. As young aircrew (I was only 17 and a half years at the time ) we were not really interested in politics and not really aware of what was happening in the "outside world". All I knew was that I was taken off flying duties and transferred to Headquarters Signals at RAF Manston. The School of Air Navigation then moved to South Wales.
I was allocated about twenty reservists to help laying telephone cables around the perimeter of the aerodrome.
On the morning of September 3rd. 1939 we started our work as normal and had nearly completed the task. At eleven o'clock on that Sunday morning, the camp sirens came to life. These sirens were normally used to alert personnel of a fire- then according to the number of blasts, that would indicate the area. However, the siren continued "warbling" and at that time a flight sergeant riding a bicycle came along wearing his "gas cape" and shouting "We are at War - take cover" I have not seen those twenty reservists from that day to this !! As a result, I made my way back to Headquarters Signals offic and was told to "stand-by" for further instructions.
At about 1230, those "further instructions" arrived. I was told to pack my kit and return within 30 minutes.
On my return, a small van was waiting and I was told that I was being posted to the R.A.F.High Speed Launch No. 108 based in Ramsgate Harbour.
We arrived at the Harbour within the hour and there was this 65ft. high speed launch - some 1500 horse power (three Napier Sea Lion 500 hp.engines)
As it was low tide, the launch was some twenty feet down from the top of the harbour wall. A ladder went down the side of the wall, thick with moss and seaweed and very wet.
I had never been to sea in my life let alone work on such a powerful boat. The nearest was perhaps on a rowing boat in Dulwich Park (south east london) as a school-boy.
My problem was how to get aboard with my kit. One of the crew members soon had my kit bags over his shoulders and hopped aboard leaving me stranded on the top. In true seaman's spirit he soon guided me down the ladder and onto the deck. It was a case of going immediately to the wireless cabin to relieve Johnny Jones (who was to be my opposite number) as he had been on watch for nearly twelve hours. Within a couple of hours we set off for the open sea and remained at sea until night fall.
All of this happened on "The Day War Broke Out* as Robb Wilton the comedian used to say.
I can truthfully claim that I have served my country on land, at sea and in the air.

At sometime in the future, I will make further contributions.

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