C.S.M. Ernest William Fereday
Army Service No. 5334942
ERNEST WILLIAM FEREDAY
28TH MARCH 1916 - 24TH OCTOBER 1995
Top middle there is a group of us, our
platoon, such as it was at the time. All these lads were conscripts with
perhaps a few volunteers. Forth along at the top, the chap dressed in
white, he was the chef and in fact he came from one of the colleges in
Oxford, Christchurch I think. He didn't stay long as he was too good for
us. He dished up some beautiful food out of the meagre rations that the
army dished out.
Our Platoon Officer was staying in the same billet and must have talked
too much and eventually the chef was sent to the Battalions Headquarters
Officers Mess and we had to put up with a A.C.C. cook (Army Catering Corps)
which had only recently been formed. All the cooks were never cooks when
they came in the army and didn't know how to boil an egg. They were put
through some form of training and we had to put up with the results.
Now 7th along with his hat set on the side, there's a chap called Ernie
Wong. He is still alive to-day and we still meet at the 'Old Comrades
Association' I trained him as a Brengun Carrier driver. In fact I trained
most of them. Most of the Corporals, Sergeants in that photograph were
recommended by me for promotion and accepted by the Platoon Commander.
6th along on the second row, the tall sergeant is Lofty Allen, (he died
a couple of years ago unfortunately) we had met in the past and we wanted
to meet again. Ernie Wooton, Lofty Allan and Alfie Underwood, they are
the main three in that photograph. We have exchanged Christmas cards every
year since the end of war.
Underneath, there are repeats of different situations of the Platoon.
Take note of the bottom middle photo, they are all giving Churchill's
'Victory 'V' sign' and not a 'rude' gesture!
Bottom right, the Sergeants, N.C.O's and Corporals and myself in the front
row, bottom line. On my left is Sergeant Lewington. By that time he had
been joined by the Mortar Platoon and the Motor Cycle Platoon. The rest
of them were in the Carriers and the Mortar Platoon.
The previous 2 pages show the causality list, I think I have mentioned
this before. I want to point out that we were still receiving the China
Dragon - that was the name of the Regimental Journal which was sent round
to each Battalion. Looking through the casualty list, my name was amongst
the missing 5334942 Corporal E. Fereday. I have ringed it in pencil. I
am very much alive! Thank goodness. Looking down the list I see 5334169
Lance Corporal Harry Blake, who I met this year for the first time since
the war, (1982). He's still going strong - at the Old Comrades Association.
We now go to the individual photographs of the men in my Platoon. I was
very keen on photographic mementoes, which must be obvious to you by now,
but space is limited and I cannot go into detail about every one of them.
Top left is a photo of a young driver - Philpot, this was taken Feb 8th
1941. He was an excellent driver - I taught him, so he would have to be
wouldn't he! He made quite a name for himself in France in the final invasion
some years after. He took about 32 prisoners of war all on his own, armed
with a Brengun. I would like to meet him again if he's still alive.
Top middle, the soldier looking away from the camera, this was taken 6th
July 1942 and had written on the back - Holding Bn or Bin, Rhosneign (?)
Anglesey. RMGYF.A.P.O.41956. top right with peaked cap, 25 Jan 1941(?)
these three were taken at the same studio and have the name 'Jerome' printed
on the back.
[LS46-4] Bottom middle, this one is dated 23rd May 1941 and the names
written on the back are- Macarthy, Tom Pepper, Nobby Oliver, Larry Taylor,
Nosher Hill, and Forbes. The name of the studio was 'Sarony, Preston,
Warrington & Branches'.
Top left is another photo taken at Sarony studios on 23rd May 1941, also
the middle photograph of the full length soldier. [LS48-3] Top right,
shows the Brengun Carrier coming over the edge of a very steep drop. I
am driving that Carrier and when I first went to find a suitable ground
to test these vehicles on their ability, I found a six foot drop and I
had to go over it myself first to make sure it was alright. There was
a technique putting a Brengun Carrier over such a drop and I knew it and
had I had to pass it on to the drivers. I had to make them go over several
times and the top had worn away and it wasn't quite so steep. Every one
of those drivers went over there and passed, but one of them had already
failed the previous stages of the test. Yet it is remarkable that they
went over there with very little trouble. Bottom left, you will see Ernie
Wooton there with a cigarette in his mouth. [LS48-4] I would deliberately
fetch a track off and the men would have to replace it which wasn't easy
in rough country conditions I can assure you. Fortunately, I had had a
few years experience before the war with Brengun Carriers and knew about
these things...
Top left; there are several Brengun Carriers with their crews mounted.
I took that of course. As I have taken most of these photographs. We had
14 Brengun Carriers at the time, but when I took this picture, it was
just 7.
P 1 :: P
2 :: P 3 :: P
4 :: P 5 :: P
6 :: P 7 :: P
8 :: P 9 :: P
10
LS42-3
LS42-1
LS46-4
LS48-3
LS48-4