Memories of World War II - before and after

I was born on 1.5.1911 in North Kensington. After leaving school at 14, I worked in the Post Office as a boy messenger and later went to Post Office school for further education. I have been married twice and have a son and daughter from my first marriage.

When World War II started, I was placed on deferred service and returned to my work in the Post Office at Mount Pleasant Sorting Office. I recall the night when the London docks were alight and I could read a newspaper in East Acton by the light of the burning docks about 8 miles away.

The night workers at the Post Office during the "blitz" worked down in the Post Office tube while "roof spotters" gave warning of any impending danger. One night, a 600 lb. bome landed within 12 feet of the PO tube and settled in the River Fleet; Bomb Disposal Squad removed it to Hackney Marshes the following morning and exploded it.

On receiving my call-up papers, I was posted to Cosford Training School. I had several postings in the UK before going overseas in 1941. As we were sailing due west from Glasgow, it was thought we were heading for Canada but changed direction to sail south and landed up in S.Africa. Having spent some time in a transit camp, we then made our way up the east coast of Africa through the Red Sea and eventually we were posted in Egypt and spent some terrible years around the Canal Zone in appalling conditions. During 1943-44, time was spent in Palestine and I visited places such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, etc.

After the end of the war, we finally got back to England after 6 years away, only to find a rail strike in progress! On August Bank Holiday, 1945, we travelled from Newhaven by train on the Southern almost into Victoria, then were diverted via Kew/Brentford, up the back of Perryn Road in East Acton where my wife was living, and joined the Midland Line at the Mitre Bridge and thence to Padgate, Warrington. I was finally back home in September 1946.

I received various medals for my War Service and also the Imperial Service Medal, having completed 44 years in the Post Office. I resumed my duties after the war, spending most of my time working on the Travelling Post Office. I was also Inspector-in-Charge of the fateful night of the 8th August, 1963 - the night of the Great Train Robbery. This makes a story in itself but it too great to incorporate it in this story which is, of course, primarily relating to the events of World War II.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.