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A ts account (87pp, written 2016) of his National Service as a Craftsman with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) starting with his call-up (June 1953), signing on as a regular for three years instead to learn a trade, following his father into REME, training at Blandford, descriptions of the camp and training Sergeant, fatigues, kit, basic training, posting to Ellesmere for vehicle mechanic course, visits to the village, being impressed with the course, an exercise trying to stop American paratroops crossing from Scotland to Wales, passing his exams and posting to the Armoured Fighting Vehicles course at Bordon, Hampshire, designation as Craftsman, working mainly with Centurion tanks, guarding the railway station, learning to drive tanks, writing his Will, passing the course with distinction and posting to a Light Aid Detachment (LAD) REME, attached to the Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards), travelling to Fallingbostal in Germany to join the Queen's Bays (March 1954), vehicle recovery in Scammell tank transporters, repairing a tank starter motor, leave in Berlin, returning to the UK (August 1954), based at Tidworth, preparations for possible deployment to Korea, but instead being posted to Transjordan, details of the journey in HMS ASTURIAS through the Mediterranean and Suez canal, his thoughts on Jordan, the move from Aqaba to a new camp (December 1954), setting up new facilities, different vehicles he worked on, particularly Bedford Trucks, trips to Ma'an in the mountains, the differences in temperature, his VM AFV 2 trade test (April 1955), completing tests in high heat, finally taking his driving test, reaction exercises, details of going on leave to Cyprus, returning to Jordan, a visit to Petra, driving a 3 ton truck in a convoy through the desert and mountain passes during an exercise near Amman, moving to Egypt (January 1956), then to Sabratah, near Tripoli, Libya, as part of an advanced party before the Queen's Bays arrived, being flown back to Aqaba via Egypt, returning to Sabratah, flying to the UK via France for demob (May 1956), demob (June 1956), being recalled in August 1956 due to the Suez crisis, moving to REME depot at Arborfield camp, moving to Chickerell near Weymouth, preparing vehicles for assault landings, a brief transfer to the REME workshops at Bovington, driving there in private cars, returning to Tidworth, moving to Southampton, seeing troopships including ASTURIAS, returning to Tidworth after invasion plans called off, and final demobilisation, with throughout anecdotes about basic training, accommodation, kit, injections, rifle drill, guard duty, church parade, entertainment, dances, fellow soldiers, making and losing friends as they are posted, driving for two years in the Army despite having never passed his test, spraining his ankle, being late back to camp, colleagues, leave, narrowly avoiding accidents, different vehicles including Diamond T towing trucks, Scammells, Bedford trucks, Austin Champs, and Centurion tanks, repair work and manufacturing of spare parts, assault course and exercise, a transit camp based in Goodge Street underground station, demob suits, and the uncertainty of the Suez situation, with a conclusion about his thoughts on National Service. Together with photocopies of: his National Service Acts Certificate of Registration (2pp); Regular Army Attestation Form (AF B.271A, 3pp, May 1953); Form of Will (AF B.2089, 2pp, March 1954); extracts from his Soldier's Service and Pay Books for his initial service (6pp) and for his recall (4pp); Army Certificate of Education, Second Class (1p, November 1954); International Certification of Vaccination or Revaccination Against Smallpox (2pp, May 1956); Record of Service (2pp); Regular Army Certificate of Service (6pp); Statement of Account by Regimental Paymaster (2pp, September – December 1956); and photocopies of a photograph album showing Anderson and others in uniform at Blandford, in Berlin, at home, in Germany, Fallingbostal station, Fallingbostal, and a photograph of HMS ASTURIAS. Together with a ts account (46pp, November 2017) 'Childhood Memories of World War 2', written in consultation with his sister, Frances Anderson, with some interesting anecdotes about their experiences of the war in Beckenham, Kent, from when he was aged 4 to 10 and she 18 months older, including their first experiences of air raids, air raid protection before they got their brick shelter, their house being damaged by a nearby bomb (November 1940), living with their grandparents and uncle and aunt in Woodside Green while the house was repaired, returning in 1943, using gardens of bombed houses as allotments, the problems with bomb sites, his uncle Bert's job as a fire warden, his father watching the bombing from their Anderson shelter and being blown back by a blast, VE Day celebrations (May 1945), seeing Churchill visiting Beckenham, with throughout details of his schooling at Balgowan School, everyday life, shopping, transport, and their father's Army service with REME despite asthma and being discharged again in January 1944, their uncles, one of who was in North Africa with the Army, joining the local cub pack, attending church, make-do and mend, listening to the radio, moving to Bromley School, scrumping for apples, being diagnosed with rheumatism and putting his back out, V weapons coming over, travelling by train to stay with his mother's brother and family in Bristol, Christmas 1944, day trips and entertainment.
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Cataloguer SJO
