Description
Object description
Wp account (60pp, written in the 1990s) of his wartime experiences, 1940 - 1948, covering his evacuation as a schoolboy with his sister from their home in Liverpool to Napanee, Ontario, Canada (July 1940 - August 1944), including details of their journey to Canada on the liner DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, the excitement of Canadian outdoor life, their integration into the local High School, their various billets and treatment by their hosts, the remoteness of the war to them as evacuees and the loyalty of the Canadians to the British war effort, the hasty preparations for his return in 1944 due to the secrecy surrounding shipping movements, and the return journey to Liverpool in a large convoy of ships, with good comments on his apprehension at seeing his family after their separation; and also covering his voluntary enlistment with the RAF (September 1944) with details of the aptitude tests attended by him at Scarborough and his dismay at the dismal first impressions of air force life, the time spent in further education and socialising in Liverpool while awaiting his call-up, including descriptions of VE and VJ Day and the popular social activities for young men at this time, his eventual call-up as a flight mechanic (October 1945) with training at RAF Deenethorpe, Corby (October 1945), RAF Credenhill, Hereford (spring 1946), RAF Shawbury, Shropshire (summer 1946) and RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire (winter 1946), followed by a posting to maintenance work at RAF Ternhill, Shropshire (1947) until his demobilisation at RAF Warton, Blackpool (spring 1948). The account includes good comments about the benefits of RAF service during the post-war period, although details of his actual service are sketchy and mainly consist of anecdotes about air force life.
Content description
Wp account (60pp, written in the 1990s) of his wartime experiences, 1940 - 1948, covering his evacuation as a schoolboy with his sister from their home in Liverpool to Napanee, Ontario, Canada (July 1940 - August 1944), including details of their journey to Canada on the liner DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, the excitement of Canadian outdoor life, their integration into the local High School, their various billets and treatment by their hosts, the remoteness of the war to them as evacuees and the loyalty of the Canadians to the British war effort, the hasty preparations for his return in 1944 due to the secrecy surrounding shipping movements, and the return journey to Liverpool in a large convoy of ships, with good comments on his apprehension at seeing his family after their separation; and also covering his voluntary enlistment with the RAF (September 1944) with details of the aptitude tests attended by him at Scarborough and his dismay at the dismal first impressions of air force life, the time spent in further education and socialising in Liverpool while awaiting his call-up, including descriptions of VE and VJ Day and the popular social activities for young men at this time, his eventual call-up as a flight mechanic (October 1945) with training at RAF Deenethorpe, Corby (October 1945), RAF Credenhill, Hereford (spring 1946), RAF Shawbury, Shropshire (summer 1946) and RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire (winter 1946), followed by a posting to maintenance work at RAF Ternhill, Shropshire (1947) until his demobilisation at RAF Warton, Blackpool (spring 1948). The account includes good comments about the benefits of RAF service during the post-war period, although details of his actual service are sketchy and mainly consist of anecdotes about air force life.
History note
Cataloguer PJG
History note
Catalogue date 1996-07-11