蜜芽传媒

鈥淭he Last of the 39-ers鈥�

Introduction
My father who was a regular in the Royal marines planed my career out for me at an early age. I was to join the navy as an Artificer Apprentice by way of the Royal Naval Training School at the very tender age of twelve. Having passed the educational exam I was subsequently failed during the medical for being 4ft 10ins a near 4 inches to short. At the time I was informed that the RAF was looking for apprentices and there was no height restrictions. I was invited to take the entrance exam, which I passed an elected to become an electrical apprentice.
We were enlisted at RAF Halton on September 30th 1930 and proceeded to RAF Cranwell to the E.W School. After 2 years of training we were told that the electrical training was to become the electrical instrument trade and were given the option on transferring to the Wireless Operator. Having heard that there was more chance of becoming aircrew I transferred.

Service History
1933 鈥� 1935 201 (FB) SQn. Calshot Southampton F/Boats
1936 鈥� 1938 205 (FB) SQn. Singapore MK.111
1938 Mar/June RAF North Coates Observers Co.
1938 鈥� Sept 1939 57 SQn. Upper Hatford Blenham MK.1
Sept/Oct 1939 57 SDn. Amy France Advanced Air Strike
Force
1939 October 16th - May 6th 1945 Germany Kriegsgefangener

Camps
We were on a photo recce from Amy near |Amiens to photo the railway activity from Munster to Hamburg. The intelligence briefing was somewhat sketchy no mention being made that Munster was a fighter HQ with three squares attached. We flew to Mentz to refuel before crossing the border and collect a fighter escort into Germany. There were no fighters available so we proceeded to the target solo.
Cloud base over the target was about 10,000 Feet so we descended below to carry out a line overlap with our f8 camera in the bomb well. Having carried out the operation we set course for base but flack started to appear around the aircraft. The pilot decided to head for the UK so we altered course. With very little cloud cover the Air Gunner soon informed us that an enemy fighter was coming up fast. The first burst came streaming through the aircraft knocking out the rear gun but fortunately not hitting the aft gunner. The pilot Flight Officer Casey then decided to dive into what little cloud cover there was hoping to lose the Me109 on our tail.
There was no way however we were able to avoid the occasional burst so we went into a steep dive to within treetop height. After what seemed like an age smoke was coming into the cockpit from smouldering engine covers stowed in the bomb well. Then we managed to hit a tree top which caused the port engine to fail and the windscreen to shatter and also our hopes of reaching friendly territory, F/O Casey told the crew to prepare for a crash landing. We landed in a potato field all the three crew got out with just shock, minor scratches and burses, however our aircraft was in a mass of flames. The Luftwaffer from an airfield a few miles away who were spectators to the chase picked us up.
That evening began our internment as POW鈥檚 at their H.Q at Munster where we spent 3 days being interrogated. We were subject to solitary confinement but were allowed out together for an evening meal under strict supervision. And so by rail to my first POW camp
Oct 1939 Moosburgh Stalag VII Nr. Munich
Nov 1940 Spankenburgh Castle
Jan 1940 Spankenburgh Village
Mar 1940 Wildflechen
May 1940 Meimar
June 1940 Shoken
July 1940 Pasen Fort VIII
Aug 1940 Stag Luft 1
Aug 1942 Staf Luft 3 Sagen
Aug 1943 Staf Luft 6 Haydekrug
Stalag Stalag 357 Thorne
Stalag 357 Falingbostel
April 1945 Long March
May 1945 RAF Cosford

Post War

Remained in RAF and retrained as an observer as a W.O. After course I was recommended for commission. Offered long signals course prior to commissioning.
1948 Siga 1 AHQ RAF Habbaniya Iraq
1949 Signals Officer RAF Calshot
1950 RAF Pembroke Docks
1952 Apprentice Training RAF Yatesbury
1954 Signals 1 A.H.Q Iraq Habbaniya
1956 Radar Type SO RAF Beachy Head
1959 HQ maintenance Cmd. Andover
1962 Eject. Eng. RAF Gibralter
1964 Elect. Eng. A.T.C.C RAF Uxbridge
1968 Elect Eng E.Q Support Command
1969 Retirement.

Retirement
After retiring to a chalet bungalow in Bournemouth we set about refurbishing it. After a year it was finished and I was invited to join the staff of a Brockenhurst sixth form collage. After 10 years service I finally fully retired at a tender age of 65, I believe working with the young generation had made my retirement seem premature.

Camp Activities
My main activity throughout my incarceration was the handling and administration of the Red Cross parcels. The first parcel to arrive was collected by me and two other NCOs. At this time I had been elected to represent the NCOs and airmen shot down. Throughout the remainder of my captive years I became the red cross representative whatever camp I was in. The duties consisted of keeping a record of all parcels received and distributed. A strict booking procedure was adhered to as it was necessary in times of hardship when food was scarce and supplies of parcels had been held up en route. To satisfy the camp committee that all parcels had been accounted for, the red cross parcels were packed strictly in accordance with international standards, however it was necessary at times to request other times it was necessary for escape purposes. These parcels were sent under various trade names, which were sent after notification had been given to us using a special code in our normal POW mail. This information was passed on to me from the camp leader and then it was up to me when the parcels were being sorted in the verlager under the eyes of the German staff. To cause some sort of distraction we would try to engage the Germans in some sort of conversation or cause a disturbance of some kind to draw their attention away. It was usually by creating a heated argument that I would get the contents past the centuries and into the camp. This method proved very successful as not one pastel was ever lost this way.
In January 1945 the parcel train from Switzerland were being disrupted by the allied bombings and we at stalag 357 were receiving no supplies. The international Red Cross told us they had managed to stack up supplies at a warehouse in Lubeck. The camp leader Dixie Deane approached the camp Commandant and explained the position. At the time we knew that we might be sent out on a long march, and Dixie persuaded him to allow him and me to go to Lubeck to see if we could obtain some parcels and arrange for a supply to reach the camp and or the columns if we were on the march.
We were given permission and Dixie with an interpreter and I were sent out with a 5 ton truck. We went through the outskirts of Manburg and saw the devastation of our boys bombing raids. The stench of rotting flesh filled the air as no attempt had been made to clear the rubble and the dead. And so to Lubeck where we first had a meeting with the harbour master about supplies being bought up the canal by barge. He was quite co-operative after showing him a large jar of coffee that had been brought along on the journey for just such a purpose. We stayed over night in a services surrounded by German service men some of whom were wounded and moaned all night long.
We were glad to seen the dawn of the next morning so we could load our wagon and proceed back to the camp with promised that lorries would be available on the march if not before.
We were soon on the march and some three days on the way we were receiving some parcels, it was now the responsibility of my staff to make sure all four columns were satisfied. Unfortunately after one such delivery, when the column were taking their parcels from the school house where they were stored, they were shot up by friendly fire and fifty of my friend were killed.
One barge load of parcels were intercepted on the Elbe which they said was for the French contingent at Stalag 357 but we soon convinced them that we were 357 and it they didn鈥檛 unload the barge we would sink it. We received the parcels with no further ado.
Entertainments
In the period when there was no activity on the parcel front I was deeply involved with the dramatics. My first attempt on the stage was a not too glamorous role as a cowboy in 鈥淲ay Out West鈥� followed by a pantomime in which the vice chairman Dave Bernard was the fairey godmother and I was the Dame, although Dave always insisted that we were the ugly sisters. Then followed a series of sketches culminating in the Merchant of Venice in which I took the part of Lancelot Gobbo. To commemorate this I have with me today a coloured photo of myself taken by an interpreter for the price of a tin of coffee.
Sport played an important part mostly basketball, football or softball. Bridge fetur5ed in the card school although all games were played during the moments of indolence and boredom.
EDUCATION
City and Guilds In communication and radio engineering, Through the red bross via Bodlean Library
My Grandfather is now 91 and lives with me in west London

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