2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

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Grandfather's Story
A CIVILIAN GOES TO WAR, (AND RETURNS UNSCATHED)

by
Cpl. Arthur George Pike 14260370
Page 2

 

The course at Bodmin lasted six weeks, and was designed to propel us into the tank corps. I did not qualify, perhaps because a test included putting a bicycle pump together (way beyond me) or because I put all my bullets through the centre of the targets. This may have been because my ancestors were pretty good at shooting rabbits on their farms. I survived the unpleasant gas shed test, and country runs, etc. I qualified for the Suffolk Regiment of infantry.

However, my transfer to Bury St Edmunds was held up because they wanted to test me for officer potential. This took me to North Kent for training with the Leicestershire Regiment. More or less the same six weeks training, plus a week on lorry driving and a week on motor cycles. More fears, but I mastered the m/c. I must have done, because when I broke down and was left behind, I restarted and tried to catch up, unaware the others had pulled in for petrol. So, I was going up Wrotham Hill at about 80 mph when the sergeant drew level, indicating I should stop and turn round and join the others. How did I manage that!

Rejection from this unit involved being sent to Inverness. Another cap badge in an empty barrack room. Until an unlikely looking character came in and welcomed me with "Fetch't coil". He was from Halifax, I think, and puzzled me, so I asked, rather hopefully " Where is it?" The answer was quite clear - "In t'coil-hoil". I fetched some coal.

It was of course a mistake sending me to Inverness. I was sent post-haste to Bury St Edmunds. Another new badge, but this was my army home now. It must have been getting near Christmas, and I went to the Cathedral; I believe I fell asleep during the service.

A keen-eyed reader will note that it was a bonus for a Geography student to be sent to so many different places. I had learnt the importance of knowing my way about from the golf course at Saunton. On the course and in the neighbouring sandhills it was easy to get lost, but not me.

I was soon off to the holding battalion which was training near Skegness for the front line. One afternoon I stood on the beach thinking there was really nothing much between me and Hitler! There were no structures like the scaffolding erected on my home beach to deter landings.

I got to know my way about Sausthorpe and Spilsby, but not the HQ at Raithby. It seems these names have endings related to the invasion by the Danes centuries before. The locals were (justifiably) proud of Telford and the Lincolnshire Wolds, but to a Devonian? Then there was Firsby station where I arrived back from weekend leave 17½ hours late. Fancy going to Budleigh Salterton on a 36-hour pass! In my defence my pass was stamped at Kings Cross RTO at the time the train was supposed to leave. The early departure was probably the result of the driver wanting to get out of the danger zone. He put paid to my officer chances. But he did give me chance to stay at the charity place at Peterborough.

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Cpl. Arthur George Pike
Cpl. Arthur George Pike 6400751

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