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Chapter 1.

Being only one year old when the war started my personal recollections of it are limited to hiding in our reinforced cellar (amongst the eggs in isinglass preservative) during the occasional nighttime air raid and my exploits with the pigs we kept on a nearby farm. I can recall that my father, being extremely deaf and not hearing all that was going on around us, always refused to get out of bed and join us in the cellar. He worked at County Hall in Wakefield and served in the ARP there. They must have quite enjoyed themselves as I can recall that he had a bar billiards table in his office that seemed to stay there until well after the war had ended and I was old enough to enjoy a game.
My first job after leaving school was in the West Riding Treasurer’s Department where my father’s friend, “uncle Clarence Hough” was Chief Clerk. After his retirement “uncle Clarence” let me have a copy of the second issue of a bulletin that he had edited that seems to reflect the spirit of the time and I give a copy of it as follows:-

“WEST RIDING TREASURER’S DEPARTMENT
“Treasury Notes” No. 2 — December, 1943

Message from County Alderman J.H. Armistead — Chairman of the West Riding Finance Committee.

I have read No. 1 of this bulletin with great interest. The record of those serving from one section only of the Department is certainly impressive. I welcome the opportunity the Bulletin gives me of wishing you all, wherever you may be, good fortune and good health in 1944 and of expressing a sincere hope — with sober confidence — that you will in the not very distant future be back with us in County Hall. We shall certainly need you, even if only a part of the many things the Education, Highways and Public Health and Welfare Committees — to mention the three chief protagonists only — now have in mind, is to go forward. I often wonder what all of you, who are now so urgently and vitally engaged in so many parts of the world, really think about all this “planning” at home. If you can find the time, write and let me know, we shall certainly be glad to have your views.

Again, and in this I am sure every member of the Committee joins with me — every good wish for 1944 and a safe and early return to your home.

J.H. ARMISTEAD

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Editorial Notes

County Alderman Armistead’s expression of good wishes and hopes for the coming year finds an echo in the hearts of all your colleagues at home and we join with him in wishing you “All the best for 1944”. On your behalf we than County Alderman Armistead for his inspiring message and reciprocate the goodwill and hopes he has so sincerely and admirably expressed.

From the many messages we have received we are glad to learn thet the first issue of “Treasury Notes” was a welcome addition to the “Orders of the Day”. Your Editor appreciates the letters sent to him but having benefited from Mr. McDonald’s experience he makes no promise to answer them speedily.

We are not prepared to commit ourselves to the monthly edition of the Notes but at such time as the material is to hand and we can find breathing space from our official and “voluntary” duties we will “go to press”.

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In this edition we give, so far as it is available, news of the serving members of the Accountant’s Section. The gathering up of the date information is difficult and we express our regrets if, unfortunately, we have missed including the name of any serving member in this section. Do please write us and help keep our records up to date.

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We include a note from Able Seaman John A. Cousins. After being blitzed out of his cockney London he found a “tempory haven of rest” in the audit section and is now a proud member of the Royal Navy. Thank you for your very interesting contribution and good luck I.Ji.

C.H.*

* Thought to be Clarence Hough who was the Chief Admin. Officer in the West Riding Treasurer’s Department.
CASUALTIES

We deeply regret to learn that Frank Bedford (R.A.F.) of Castleford was killed in a flying accident in this country on 3rd December. Bedford had been a very promising junior in the Pontefract Area Collector’s Office and expected getting his “wings” at Christmas.

Cyril Taylor (R.A.F.) formerly of the Dewsbury Area Collector’s Office is reported missing from an operational flight.

WOMEN’S PAGE

We feel we cannot do better than quote extracts from a letter from L.A.C.W. Margaret Clark (late Room 16) who sends an appreciation of the first of these Notes then adds:

“My job, together with hundreds more girls, is to keep the records of every airman and W.A.A.F. up to and including the rank of W/O correct and up to date.
Very occasionally one comes across the personal record of someone one has known in “civvie street” and then interest is kindled anew because one can trace the person’s life in the R.A.F. or W.A.A.F. from the day of enlisting to the present date. Learning how and when the person was promoted, why they were confined to camp for 14 days, but more important, where they now are.
I am fortunate to be living at “The Deanery” which has been taken over as a W.A.A.F. Hostel for the duration. “The Deanery” is attached to the Cathedral, and was of course built at the same time, somewhere in the 12th century. It is a lovely old building which prides itself in having rooms in which King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn have slept; also marvellous oak panelling and secret doors which date back to that time. It also boasts a ghost, supposed to be the ghost of a man found hanged in the oldest room in the house. No one has yet seen this apparition though of course some swear they have, but on searching for causes one finds that the menu for the previous night’s supper was inevitably cheese and onions. I must admit though, the place definitely has a creepy atmosphere especially when one sits in the Guard Room (once the hall) for two hours during the night. This happens when we are on fire piquet and if one has a crime book to while away the time, one begins to think the old King might suddenly wander down the winding stairs, so you can see, we are always glad when our spot of duty is over and we can rush and bury our heads under the bedclothes”.

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County Hall (Treasurer’s Department) Ladies Hockey Club.

Well boys, you will be pleased to hear that the girls from Room 22 have started on a well camouflaged course of slimming. Of course they couldn’t very well announce this, hence the camouflage — a Hockey Club.

Anyway they are making a gallant effort and have played magnificently so far, in fact lost both matches. However, they bravely put this down to the lack of supporters and made the best of a bad job.

The high spot of the affair so far has been the outing with the Football Team, whom they have been supporting, in the hope of it being reciprocated — alas in vain! The gory details of a good rugger match were avidly watched by the bloodthirsty little darlings with ill-conceived glee. Among the most interested were Bessie, the “pride of the forwards”, and Salome.

Our dumb blonde (otherwise known as Barbara) arrived at the end of the match in time to sample (did I say sample?) the generous tea. Naturally she had been to the wrong match having been lured there by the sight of khaki uniform littered round the field.

So with promise of further treats, the Hockey Club still flourishes; we’ll let you know how they go on, as they lose match by match. Don’t forget it’s lack of supports that lets them down.

E.H.
Editor’s note — On the understanding that “them” in the last sentence means what I hope it means, I have allowed this to go into print.
Contribution by Able Seaman (Coder) J.A. Cousins

During the last few months I have had the good fortune to visit New York, Washington and New Orleans.

A friend and I arrived at the Pennsylvania Station about 2 o’clock one Saturday afternoon to try to see as much of New York as possible during the week-end. On emerging from the station we had our first glimpse of the colossal skyscrapers. As we were looking up at the many huge buildings, an idling Yank said “Say boys, mind ya don’t break ya neck looking up at our small buildings”. The best view of New York can be seen from the Empire State Building. We were taken to the observatory and in order to reach it we were obliged to change lifts twice. Then from nearly 1,200 ft. above street level we had a bird’s eye view of the city. The skyscrapers which had seemed gigantic from street level then seemed like huts. The Statue of Liberty could be seen dominating the harbour.

In the evening there was plenty to do as the night life starts and the movies stay open until 4 a.m.

On the Sunday we joined the Y.M.C.A. organised tour which included Harlem (the coloured quarter) La Guardia’s commercial air field, Radio City and many other places of interest.

Through the kindness of an American family who entertained mr in their home for a week, a visit to Washington was made possible.

In the centre of the city were the government buildings, the majority built in white stone and surrounded by lawns which gave them a quiet and healthy appearance compared to our own drab government offices. On an organised tour we were taken over the Capitol, Senate House and the memorial of that great leader of democracy, Abraham Lincoln, we were shown the White House and other noteworthy buildings.

To reach New Orleans, a 150 mile trip up the Mississippi is necessary. The day I sailed to the city the temperature was 100 degrees F. and being off watch I was able to sit on the upper deck in a pair of shorts sunbathing while enjoying the view. The river was muddy brown on either bank, the trees were in foliage, beautifully coloured butterflies and insects resembling dragon flies were fluttering about beneath the clear blue sky and hot sun as we steamed gracefully along.

The city of New Orleans consisted of the old historic French quarter with its houses and their lace worked iron railings and beautiful cool green courtyards; and the new quarter with its palm tree avenue, park and large open air swimming pool.

J.A.C.

Sergt. T. Lindop (11th Yorks and Lancs) writes: -

I was more than pleased when I recently received a copy of “Treasury Notes”(?) No. 1. Something of this nature has been sadly lacking throughout the last four years. When I, along with a few others of the lads, “temporarily” left the department about 4 ¼ years ago in the early “call ups” I felt very keenly the fact that the Treasurer would still be able to issue snow clearing cheques without my assistance. We just did not come to the office any more and I, for one, felt that I was not noticed by my absence.

I have been in the army exactly as many month as I was at C.H. but my interest in the doings of the C.C. has never wavered, and that mighty weapon the newspaper (viz. The “Wakefield Express”) has kept me fairly well informed on these matters, and to no small degree on the news of the staff; but I can assure you nevertheless, I garnered a rich harvest of welcome news from this No. 1 Bulletin, especially from the “Personal Paragraphs, etc.”. It is a great piece of work and I felt proud of the lads when I perused the list and learned of their achievements and experiences, brief though the notes may be.

The remarks “Yorks and Lacs — Keeping as quiet as ever” alongside my name, I am taking as an initiative to write.

My army career has been anything but spectacular, I’ve been dogged by good fortune and am still as fit as when I first donned B.D. I’ve had a crack at just about everything done by an infantry battalion, from scrubbing floors to driving Bren Carriers, and from office work to drill instructor, and am now settled down to Q work. I have had many homes on the South, East and N. East coasts as an atom of the “thin red line” and have recently returned to my home county after 12 months on the edge of nowhere.

One other thing before closing, I would have liked to have appeared under “H. Harris” in “Society and Personal”, having met my Waterloo last April.

May I endorse the good wishes extended to Mr. Pick, I have no doubt he is kindly remembered by members of staff all over the globe.

The bulletin offers many topics about which to write; it is with regret that I kerb my pen, and even now I fear the axe will fall. I wish the bulletin every success and feel sure it will be welcomed by the “lads out of touch”.

Best wishes to friends.
R. LINDOP, Sgt.
11rh Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment.

Thanks, Lindop, for your interesting letter and congratulations on your marriage. Ed.

Continued in Chapter 2.

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