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Grandfather's Story
A CIVILIAN GOES TO WAR, (AND RETURNS UNSCATHED)
by
Cpl. Arthur George Pike 14260370
Page 3
The 48th Parrot division
of which we were part went for regular training sessions on the North York Moors. More new places to see, and when I watch Heartbeat on the
telly I feel sure I can recognise every bit of scenery they use.
I suppose it is worth remembering that we were pretty well fed at a time when
the civilian rationing was rather severe. As my parents ran a small hotel, food was probably
more readily available at home than was the case with others.
All the lads went off abroad, except me. I was held back again as being on
the verge of officer possibility, so it was off to the NYM again with the next intake. Then
I was abandoned and after twelve months of training in the UK I was off to an unknown
destination. We had been issued with tropical kit and a topi. On August 14th
our train was off to Liverpool from Horncastle. Passing through Bradford, one of my friends
said he was able to see his home. He was a good friend but we were soon separated,
but nearly met again in Southern India. He went on to reach a high NCO rank in 25 DIV
HQ. I fluffed my chance to emulate him a matter of bad timing.
Although I had lived on the sea front beside the fishing boats, I did not like
the sea. However, the seasickness happened very conveniently at the time of the next
meal and only happened three times. An officer took some of us aside and said he was
looking for volunteers to be Regimental Policemen on the boat, the SS Tegelberg. It meant
being enclosed most of the time in the brig at the front end and down at water level,
so the joys of the open Atlantic were denied to me. It seems we went very near to New York
in our convoy. I did get up to see Gibraltar when we passed. It seems we were untroubled
by the enemy, but the next convoy a month later were attacked near Tunisia.
Then the Suez Canal! The visit gave some reality to my many lessons on that
subject. A 100+ miles of flat water connecting two major seas.
At the far end, we changed ships, so that ours could go back to tackle sea
landings with its special equipment. We boarded the Windsor Castle, calling at Aden and Bombay.
I had not read Kipling books, and it meant nothing to me except that we were a bit
nearer the front with the Japanese army, whose reputation was based on Pearl Harbour and
Singapore and the POW camps. Not something I was looking forward to, but it
had to be done.
Our train took us up the Western Ghats to Deolali, where we would be acclimatised.
I have often had the task of persuading people there really is a place of that
name, and it does have that peculiar spelling. Its reputation was gained, I think, from
the state of the British soldiers who gathered there for repatriation after serving seven years
in the hot climate. This period had been considerably reduced by then, (and was cut down
to three years for the first time when my turn came). For eight weeks we grew accustomed
to the climate, and then off to 2nd Suffolks in 5 Div. No, I was unwell with stomach
trouble and laid out. A week later a CSM came through the tents, and ordered me back to
the MO who passed me fit, and I went off with the fifty or so similar cases to take
on noncombative duties with the 19th Div in Southern India. Some went to the 25 Div.
P 1 :: P
2 :: P 3 :: P
4 :: P 5 :: P
6 :: P
7 :: P 8 :: P
9 :: P
10
Cpl. Arthur George Pike 6400751