蜜芽传媒

Why Have I called this story 鈥淟ucky Me!鈥�? Well, I was fortunate through my war service in several ways:

(1) I spent all my time in ENGLAND

(2) In the whole of my service I did not see one dead person.

(3) The longest stretch I spent away from home was ten weeks when I was at BIGGIN HILL in 1940

(4) I was never put on a charge (Though once or twice was very close!)

(5) After I got married my wife was posted to the same unit at 24 M.U.

TRAINING 1938

In August of 1938 I went to the Recruiting Office in Manchester for a medical and exam to join the R.A.F.

They did not waste any time for on the 1st of September I had to report to R.A.F. West Drayton, here we had another medical and were sworn in. I then became 619273 MARSH.

Whilst we were in the queue the lad in front of me said "Where do you com fray"? Which it took me a few moments to realise meant 鈥渨here do you come from鈥� I told him I was from Kent but had been living in Manchester. He came from Accrington Lancs. which explained his accent.

Our first meal in the R.A.F ended with Strawberries and Cream this must have been a bribe for I never had it again! The next day my group went to R.T.W. No.l Uxbridge

The first thing was to collect our uniforms and equipment which even included riding breaches and putties though they were withdrawn before we came to use them.

We had to mark all our kit with our number, this had to be in the right place so that when the item was folded the number could be seen. We also had to stamp our knife, fork and spoon and our Identity Disc which was worn around the neck. Then came the job of Blancoing all our webbing Belt, Bullet Pouches, Straps and Back packs. That was not the end of it - there was your boots and bayonet scabbard to spit and polish. However hard you tried you could never please the N.C.OS!

The Square

Here we had to learn how to march and do rifle drill, I did have a start on the others because I had been in the Territorials.

When the colours were flying the square was out of bounds. One day whilst working in the cookhouse the fire alarm was sounded so my mate and I dashed across the square because we were on fire piquet. All the N.C.OS were shouting at us but we did not stop, fortunately we never heard any more about it.

Every Saturday morning was the C.O鈥檚 parade in full marching order.

Kit Inspection

All kit had to be laid out on your bed and in the locker in the right order with numbers showing. If your kit was not clean or in the wrong place you were in trouble. I have seen the Inspecting N.C.O. tip a man鈥檚 kit on the floor and say "DO IT AGAIN - I WILL BE BACK!"

One item which you had to be sure to have was a token for having your hair cut. This was so that when ordered to "GET YOUR HAIR CUT" you could not use the excuse that you had no money.

After one inspection we had to remove our tunics, we all wondered what was coming next! The N.C.O. came round and checked to see if all our trouser buttons were sewn on. This was just one of many strange checks they thought of that, if failed, could result in the loss of your weekend pass.

All brasses had to be cleaned both back and front. In fact I lost my weekend pass for not cleaning the back of the press studs on my bullet pouches. Even the studs on the bottom of your drill boots had to shine.

Guard Mounting

Towards the end of training each block had to supply a night time Guard. When it was my turn I was lucky for I was picked out as the best on parade that day. For this honour I became the C.O. runner the following day. Once again luck was with me because it was a Sunday and the only job I had to do was to go around all the blocks to tell them that there was no church parade because it was raining.

I went into one block filled with new recruits and as I was wearing the C.O. runner鈥檚 black belt and shoulder strap with pouch they though I must be important and called me 鈥淪ir鈥� I even got a salute which made me very proud.

This was a good way to end my basic training.

Technical Training

On November l0th 1938 I was posted to R.A.F. Cosford. Here I started on my technical training in No2 wing. We were then sorted out into Flight Mecs or Airframe Mecs.

We were transferred to No5 Wing on January 6th and started to learn about how engines worked.

To record all that was involved would fill a book but some events stick in one鈥檚 mind. In one hanger there was an aircraft with a drip tray under the engine in which there was some petrol. One of the trainees used some to fill his cigarette lighter and then stepped back to try it. There was a flash and the next thing the tray was on fire. Only quick action with the fire extinguisher saved the aircraft!

In December 1938, there was an Inspection by the A.O.C. Training Command. As he inspected the ranks the Band played 鈥淪outh of the Border鈥� this was the only time we heard a tune that was 鈥渢op of the pops鈥� played on parade.

In our practical work we had to fit a round peg in a square hole. The secret to this was to cut off a piece of the round bar the length of the square and fit it in sideways!

We still had to do drill on the square and P.T. One morning I woke up with the left side of my face paralysed and had to report sick. I reported to the Station Sick Quarters where they thought it was caused by a draught so I had to go for heat treatment each day for a week.

1939

Training carried on until August 1939 when I went on a weeks leave.

The 鈥淔lying Club鈥�

On my return after reporting to each section such as Pay, Stores etc. I was officially a Flight Mec (engines) as an Aircraftman Second Class. The list of postings was put up and I found that I was posted to R.A.F. Ternhill

I reported to the guard room of 10 P.T.S. on August 14th 1939 to join the Station Flight. Then I had to go around with my arrival chit to the orderly room where I met the Station Warrant Officer a Mr. Speight. He greeted me with the cheery words "Not another for the flying club?鈥�.

The flight was used by Officers who had to do a certain number of flying hours a year to claim their pilots pay. Within a few days I went for a flight in a Miles Mentor. The pilot casually asked me 鈥渨here shall we go鈥� and I told him I would like to go back to Cosford to pickup my laundry as it was still in the wash when I left. So this was where we went and we landed on the field which is now the Cosford Aviation Museum. When I went to the stores I met some of the lads I knew, they would not believe me when I told them I had come back by plane!

I had many other flights but will just record three which I never forgot.

On a flight to South Cerney in a Miles Magister the Pilot said 鈥渃an you fly鈥� and then told me to take hold of the stick with the words 鈥渋ts all yours!鈥� but I could not make it do what I wanted.

Next was a flight in a Miles Master to Penrhos in Wales. As we flew towards Snowdon I saw it coming closer and began to wonder if we were going to fly into it. At the very last moment the pilot lifted the nose and we skimmed the top as he turned his head and laughed at me.

But I had a much bigger scare with an Army Officer in a Harvard. We took off ok and flew around the field but as we came into land he was too fast and the controller in the tower told him to use the flaps. The next time as he was coming in I saw the under carriage lever start to move to raise the wheels that were already down! It was a good thing it was duel controlled so I could hold it in place. When we landed the pilot admitted 鈥渋t was a good thing you were with me - I would have pranged it鈥�. So I did save the R.A.F. an aircraft as well as, maybe, myself!

In Part 2, I will cover my War time experiences.

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