Edinburgh 1939
War was declared on September 1939. It was obvious that conscription was on its way. All the territorials had already been called up. I decided that I would enlist in the Navy. I queued with some fifty others outside the Central halls, Tollcross. We were there in an answer to an announcement in the local papers, News and Dispatch which called for skilled craftsmen. The interview panel were junior type officers and were only interested if you were willing to sign up for twelve years. Since I was only wanting to serve for the duration of hostilities, it was not on! I was told I would hear shortly if I was required on this basis, but no word was forthcoming. After two weeks, on 4th October, I signed on at the Music Hall, George St, "accepted the King's shilling", had a medical, got a rail warrant, and caught the London train at 9.30. Hectic! I got into Kings Cross at 8.30 the following morning. Although it was the regular service train, it was mostly troops from Edinburgh and all stations north.
From Kings Cross I went to Buller Barracks in Aldershot.There, they went through all the army routine - lectures, parades, lots of coming and going as we were assessed and divided up. I was sent, after about a week, to Bullford (kitted out in uniform), where I stayed for two weeks.
Then I was sent in a draft of 50, to Worksop (billeted in the Golden Ball pub, Worksop), to join the 552 Co of the RASC which was part of the first Cavalry Division - which originated in Hull. I parcelled up my civvi clothes and posted them home. At Worksop, we did our marching in Worksop football ground, did rifle drill, went to lectures on duties of the regiment in battle. It was explained to us that being a field regiment, first echelon, we had to supply the front line troops with what was required - petrol, water, ammo.
On 1st December, all the draft got embarkation leave. We got rail warrants. I went from Worksop to Retford to get the train - with lots of the same chaps that came down with me - Charlie Kerr, Edinburgh, Kenny Campbell from Portobello, Alex Senter, Edinburgh. We had a week's leave, then back to Worksop. During leave, we met in Edinburgh in uniform and had our photo taken at Jerome's. After our week's leave we said our last farewells and returned to Worksop to await the call to arms for real.
left to right: Charlie Kerr, Jimmy (standing), Alex Senter and Kenny Campbell.
I liked Worksop. It was a scenic part of the country. Everyone was very friendly - perhaps because of the uniform. I got friendly with a Methodist Minister in the town and he arranged with friends to get four bikes for us, and we cycled all round the area. We went to Edwinstowe - through the forest on dirt tracks. We met Sherwood foresters who told us directions to the Major Oak, and Long Green where the archers practised.
However, on 28th December, we marched at night to the railway sidings and boarded the troop train for the Southampton - Cherbourg crossing. We went right to the docks and boarded a small boat - "Amsterdam" - an old ferry It was overcrowded. We slept on deck - about 800 of us. The dock area was full of troops, and the sea was full of small boats like ours - a terrific hive of activity - a whole division, the 1st Cavalry Division, about 12,000 men, on the move.