How We Served, by John Kenneth Justin
Biography of David Newton Searle-Baker
Ex Aircraft Apprentice, No. 1 School of Technical Training, Halton. Buckinghamshire. England. 46th Entry, Service as a Fitter II Airframes, in the Middle East and Western Europe, Royal Air Force, 1943 � 1950
Copyright David Newton Searle-Baker 1st. January, 2000. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or photcopying, recording. or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.
Chapter 3
1943 - 1945
� � �Early in February of 1943 I travelled to Larne, catching the ferry that plies across the Irish Sea to Stranraer. It was a wild, night crossing; I was more than pleased when the ship finally docked. We disembarked early in the morning and crowded onto a train that had been awaiting our arrival. It was most fortunate that I managed to find a seat. All the carriages were full, as were the corridors. But, we were destined to spend the next twenty-four hours on that train as it puffed its way down to London. Don't know what happened but several times we seem to have been diverted due to air raids in various parts of the country.
� � �Finally we arrived and I went off to spend five days with my Grandfather prior to catching the train for Halton.
� � �Eventually the great day arrived. It was pouring with rain. Off I went into my future, whatever that might be!
� � �Upon reaching the town of Wendover, which was the nearest station.to Halton. We all disembarked, formed up and marched the two or three, miles to the Camp.
� � �There we were given a meal and immediately started the process of Induction. Over the next few days we went through the inevitable route followed by any recruit, into any of the Armed Services. Medical examination followed by regulation haircuts. Issuing of uniform and kit, which promptly went away for alteration. Rifle and equipment issue. And, most importantly, the allocation of Trades was decided. Not having any particular preference, I was informed that I would be trained as an Airframe Fitter.
� � �Next came Attestation, along with the acceptance of the Kings Shilling. This, was in fact a paper transaction starting off ones service record.
� � �During the war the Halton Apprentice Scheme had been curtailed, being reduced down to a two-year course. It was only after we had been there for about a year that we were told that our Entry was having it's course extended by an additional six months. In addition, as a wartime measure the size of the establishment had been reduced with only One Wing operating by the time that I joined. This wing comprised of some thousand boys who were under training in the various trades.
� � �We were housed in substantial barrack blocks that had been built pre-war. With all boys of the same entry and trade being housed in the same barrack room.
� � �I was housed in A.Squadron , under the gentle care of a Flight Sergeant, Bill Ansell and his compatriot, Corporal Kemsley . Forever will I be grateful to these two gentlemen, for the discipline that they enforced. Combined with understanding and guidance, during the two and a half years that lay ahead.
� � �Our course started off with a period of "Square Bashing", when we were taught the rudiments of drill. To many it may seem a complete waste of time. But for anyone in the services, it is the quickest way in which to get a large body of men moving from point A, to Point B and is not just the senseless .activity of a robot. In fact one can quite enjoy being part of a troop who act as one, at the point of command.
� � � During the time of our apprenticeship we were paid at the rate of Five Shillings a week. But only half of this was given to us at the time. The rest was saved for the time when we went on leave. Now, five shillings (25p) a fortnight might not seem very much. And it wasn't, even in those years when the majority of any spare cash went on rock buns from the NAAFI. But we managed although we were almost always hungry.
� � �I hadn't been in the Air Force two weeks before I committed my first sin. One Sunday morning, having nothing to do, I wandered down to the Workshops. This was pure enthusiasm, to see what aircraft had been housed there. The variety was amazing. There were Hawker Harts, Hurricanes, Spitfires, Beaufighters, Swordfish, Mosquito's, Wellingtons, Typhoons, and even an old Walrus amphibian.
� � �As with every other youngster of my age I wanted to get up into the cockpit and see the controls. The aircraft that I chose being the Typhoon. Unfortunately, it had been rigged up into flying position and I was unable to climb onto the wing without aid. Just as well that there was a table standing just under the wing that I could climb on to obtain access! At least, that was the way that my mind worked. Unfortunately when I placed my weight on the corner of the table to climb up, the whole lot toppled over with an extremely loud tinkle of broken glass.
� � �What a quandary now faced me. Not there two weeks and I had broken something when I shouldn't even have been in the Workshops. In the end, I decided to own up and tell the truth, facing whatever punishment they may deem suitable. With visions of being placed before a firing squad, I admitted my crime.
� � �It turned out that the table that I had broken was called a Hills Mirror of Observations. Being used to plot the point of impact during practise bombing runs. It consisted of ground glass with a mirrored backing on a tripod suspension. . It also had a removable wooden cover that had caused me to see it as just a table. Cost, somewhere in the region of a thousand pounds, which was a fortune in those days. In addition it was virtually irreplaceable in wartime Britain. I was more than fortunate that they forgave my youthful indiscretion, and didn't make me pay for it over the next hundred years!
� � �We now started being instructed in our various trades. In order to be able to Service and Repair Aircraft as an Airframe Fitter, I would be trained in the following trades: -
� � �Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Sheet Metal work, Basic Fitting, Sewing and Fabric Work, Paint Spraying, Carpentry, Rigging of Aircraft, Blacksmiths Trade, Welding, Soldering and Brazing. All the necessary Forms and Instruction Books, without which no service can hope to operate. It was an extremely comprehensive course that would enable us to handle any repair, or maintenance job, on any of the aircraft then in operation throughout the world.
� � �Even such things as having to make our own tools, in the event of being forced-down in the desert were catered for, hence the Blacksmiths course. Before the war there were some Apprentices who took the Engine Course, in addition to the Airframe. These chaps were known as Fitter One's, and very capable fellows they were too.
� � �Quite a comprehensive list of things to learn, and become efficient at, over the following years. But, practise makes perfect, and off we went on the learning curve once again.
� � �I think that it was the end of March that I learnt that father had been promoted to Squadron Leader (Major), and been sent off trooping once again. Later I discovered that he had been appointed as Senior Medical Officer on board The Queen Elizabeth.
� � �This vessel, being the fastest in the World, sailed alone. Trusting to her speed to outwit the waiting U boats. At least that's what we were told at the time, although we now know just how much secret intelligence helped in plotting her course.
� � �Once again, father just went off into the blue and we had no idea as to where he was going as the name of the ship was not divulged. This was the time of the build up of American Forces into Great Britain for a future invasion. Consequently the Queen Elizabeth sailed between America, Canada and the United Kingdom, full up on each voyage.
� � �It was so full that sleeping, eating and exercise, was organised in three shifts. When one group finished a particular function, they then moved onto the next. This meant that different people occupied every bed three times, during the twenty four-hour period.
� � �Not at all comfortable trips, with even the ships officers having to double, or treble up, with their sleeping accommodation. But necessary during those traumatic years, when it was essential that as many troops were delivered to Britain by the quickest possible means.
� � �Gradually we all adjusted to the new routine of our lives with nearly every waking moment being fully occupied.
� � �Reveille by bugle, or on special occasions "The Pipes ", at 06.00 hrs. Ablutions followed by breakfast, making of beds and laying out one's kit. Cleaning the barrack room ensuring that everything was spick and span, ready for a snap inspection. Everything had to be laid out in a certain manner with the corners of all folded blankets neatly squared off. Failure to achieve the desired result brought retribution down upon one's head very quickly in the form of being put on defaulters!
� � �07.30 hrs. We were formed up on the Parade Ground. and marched off down to the Workshops .On these occasions we were led by the Apprentice Pipe and Drum Band . To some the bagpipes may produce the most awful sound. But for me, it gave me an abiding love of that haunting music. Even now, when I hear the skirl of the pipes my back stiffens, as I'm transported back to those heady days of my youth.
� � �At the workshops we then went to attend our various courses of instruction for the day, whatever that might be? Lunchtime we reversed the procedure and marched up to the mess for lunch, returning in the afternoon for further training.
� � �17.00 hrs. We returned to barracks, but the day wasn't finished as our Squadron Commander then dealt with defaulters. For the slightest misdemeanour-we were put on a charge. This could be for anything, from being absent without leave to smiling on parade. Suitable punishment was then handed out, usually in the form of restricting one to camp, in addition to being given extra parades in the early morning and evening, followed by cookhouse fatigues.
� � �Weekends were devoted to sport. In my case I managed to get into the swimming team where I had considerable success. Winter sport was mostly confined to cross country athletics and hockey. I can't remember whether or not we played some form of football, we probably did, but I have a feeling that grounds were not available during the war years?
� � �Leave was granted three times a year to tie in with the school terms .My first leave became due at Easter that year and I couldn't wait to get home. Living in London, only one and a half hours away from the camp, I was fortunate. Some of the chaps lived in extremely remote parts of the British Isles and it took them a long time to get home.
� � �Being sixteen, and having a few pennies in my pocket for a change, I wanted to be where the girls were! At the time this meant the Dance Halls, which opened at about 2 pm. with tea dances. After a short break the evening session started at about six thirty, going on until the bewitching hour of midnight. Convent Garden Opera House had been converted into a dance hall. There, with two extra bands playing, they continued right through the night.
� � �The choice was great; to name just a few there was the Paramount near Goodge Street Station. The Astoria at Tottenham Court Road. The Lyceum in the Strand, close by. Convent Garden In addition, there was also the Hammersmith Palais, which had the largest dance floor in town but this was rather far out for my taste.
� � �Girls there were in abundance and sometimes I used to go attend three dances a day. . Many was the time, over the next few years, that I used to take my partner for the evening home, missing the last train or bus home in the process. On these occasions I had to either walk, hitch a ride, or wait for the early morning tube that ran at about four am. Numerous people were still sleeping on the underground platforms right throughout the war One tried to avoid awakening them, but they did make the platforms pretty crowded so it was hard to avoid stepping on them occasionally. !
� � �Walking back home in the black-out over Westminster Bridge, seeing the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, silhouetted against the moon, with near empty streets gave me a completely different perspective of this great city.
� � �Of course, it wasn't just the dance halls that I discovered; it was also the Pubs! Couldn't afford very much in the way of beer during that time. But found it most interesting, just sitting quietly in a corner watching the passing scene.
� � �It didn't take me very long to discover that some of the fairer sex had their charms for sale. With additional beer being beyond my means, how could I attract them? If I couldn't attract them, then there was no possibility of my being able to take advantage of what they had to offer. However, on the odd occasion I did try to negotiate, but I couldn't raise the funds that would have been required. Consequently, they would have nothing to do with me, although they were quite willing to chat and buy me the odd beer. Every so often they excused themselves for some twenty minutes when customers came along, buying another round upon their return!
� � �Later in the year I discovered the cheapest "Doss House" in town and future problems were solved. This turned out to be not the YMCA, but the Imperial Hotel in Russell Square. There, in the basement were of tea and a couple of slices of toast, which always went down well. Especially, if one was a bit hung over?
� � �There never seemed to be a dull moment whilst I was on leave. When I had nothing to do, I'd sometimes take the tube down to Trafalgar Square and get chatting to a few of the many strangers in town. If they had the time, I'd give them a free guided tour of the Tower of London; St.Paul's Cathedral, Fleet Street, Whitehall, Parliament and the National Gallery. It certainly helped to pass my day and I'm certain that the visitors enjoyed having someone show them around.
� � �Royal Air Force Bomber Command had been operational since the commencement of the war, with varying degrees of success. . But it wasn't until 1942 that the older type of bombers were gradually phased out and replaced with the four engine aircraft such as the Halifax and Stirling. In addition, this year saw the introduction of the Avro Lancaster that was one of the outstanding success stories of wartime aircraft design when it eventually came into service.
� � �At the same time De Havilland introduced the all-wooden Mosquito which proved to be a superb, two seater light bomber, carrying a 4000 lb.bomb. This aircraft could be used as a day or night fighter, in addition to being a photographic reconnaissance. aircraft.
� � �By this time, the USAAF had recognised the fact that their large daylight bomber boxes could not penetrate the long distances involved in attacking Central Europe, without some sort of long-range fighter escort. The result of this thinking eventually led to the introduction of one of the outstanding fighters of the era, the P.51 Mustang. This, when fitted with long range external fuel tanks, could penetrate deep into enemy territory.
� � �Great strides had been made in radar and navigational aids. These enabled the aircrew to locate and attack their targets even on the blackest night. With the gradual build up of Royal Air Force Bomber Command, we started to see the development of the Bomber Stream, when up to a thousand aircraft were directed onto their targets by means of a specialised Pathfinder Force.
� � �All these things were kept strictly secret at the time. They only became known to the general public as the as the war progressed via the various news media.
� � �Censorship was extremely strict throughout the war and space was extremely limited in the small newspapers of the day. The result was that very little news of other war fronts appeared in the papers. It was hard to tell what was happening in the Pacific, or Burma. Small wonder that the British fighting in Burma used to call themselves "The Forgotten Army "!
� � �Just for a change the war news had been good for the past five or six months. Alemein had been fought at the end of the previous year , with Rommel being pushed back in the Western Desert . The Americans and British had landed in North Africa, so the Germans were being squeezed from both ends. The battle for Stalingrad had ended with the surrender of von Paulus and the 6th.Army. Out of some 265,000 men, one hundred thousand had been killed, 75,000 wounded and 90,000 which went into captivity. I understand that only about five thousand of these prisoners ever saw their homes again after the war.
� � �In the summer Sicily was invaded with the eventual landing in Italy and the surrender of the Italian forces. But the Germans still held on and the Allies were forced into that fight up the length of the country.
� � �With a thousand boys under training the Workshops at Halton were vast. A fully detailed schedule had been drawn up for our instruction covering every aspect of our course. Actual aircraft beside us, on which we could work, should this be required during the lesson.
� � �Becoming efficient at any trade takes considerable time and practise as we were to find over the following years. But I certainly found it intensely satisfying, and interesting, being able to make something and work with my hands. Gradually we progressed but it was a slow process with so much to learn.
� � �Odd bits of excitement during the year such as when a Fortress came over low to make an emergency landing with his engines on fire. As the aircraft went overhead one could see some of the crew standing by the open gun ports as they awaited the crash landing. Never did find out what happened to that plane during it's landing. Sometimes during the day we would watch the American day bombers form up, before they went off to the Continent.
� � �I think that it was about August of 1943, that we received our first batch of Polish Apprentices. These poor chaps had led a hell of an existence. The Russians had taken them prisoner, way back in 1939 at the start of the war. Whilst Stalin was on Hitler's side they were held in prison camps. But after the German attack on Russia, at the urging of the Allies I think, they were released and sent down to the Middle East. Some of them were then sent to Halton to be trained in the various trades. Although the majority could speak some form of English, communication was extremely difficult, more so as they were housed in their own barrack block. Wonder what happened to them, I had left Halton by the time that they had completed their course. But they absolutely loathed both the German and Russians, with an equal hate as they had all lost their parents.
� � �Have a feeling that it was during my summer leave that I saw my brother again. . Hadn't seen him since he joined the army some twenty months previously. In the meantime he had been commissioned in the Royal Artillery. Very smart he looked too, in his Subaltern's uniform with Sam Browne gleaming. We had a few beers and stayed with mother, then it was time to be off and go our separate ways.
� � �Christmas came and we all knew that the coming year would, at last, be the year of the invasion. It was a constant subject of general speculation with all of us, although very few people knew when, or where it would actually happen. But on leaves one could feel the additional tension as servicemen lived every moment to the full.
� � �Apart from the extremely large number of Servicemen who were in the country from all the Allied Nations of the world, there were other signs of an impending attack on Fortress Europe.
� � �Gradually the narrow lanes and side roads in Southern England started getting full up with strange looking, half-oval shapes of corrugated iron. They went on for miles throughout all the counties. Into these structures went the shells, and other implements of war, that would be required when our forces landed in Europe. But they seemed endless, and I never heard of anyone stealing from them, or trying to tamper with them in any way.
� � �There were also open fields where vehicles, tanks, lorries, specialised equipment was stored read for the time that it would be required. One couldn't help but see it all as you went around.
� � �Further signs included the training of Glider pilots who trained nearby. One could see them every day practising their landings, ready for the time when they would do it for real. Amazing just how steeply they dived and levelled out for landing before the trees hid them from sight at ground level.
1944
� � �This was the year that we had all been waiting and suffering for: the Allied return to Europe. Britain was an armed camp. Bulging at the seams with trained men and equipment ready to go.
� � �But we all knew that it would be a desperate venture, should we be repulsed it would take a long time accumulate everything to have a second try.
� � �As with the rest of the world, we first heard the news that the Allied Forces had landed on the morning of the sixth of June. Our hearts went out to those troops who were actively engaged in carrying out the invasion. As we all know, the weather held just long enough for them to get a foothold which was expanded during the coming months.
� � �My brother Tony, landed with his troop of self propelled twenty-five pounder field guns, on D plus 9. He subsequently went on to fight in the battle for Caen. After this he was transferred into the 3rd. Royal Horse Artillery, being attached to the Guards Armoured Division who fought through France, Belgium and Holland . Being amongst the first troops into Brussels where they were given a rapturous welcome. Later he was involved in the endeavour to relieve the Paratroopers who had dropped at Arnhem, going over the Nijmegen Bridge whilst there were still snipers about.
Photo To Come
25 pdr. Self propelled Field Gun
My brother has his arm on the machine gun.
� � �The Division crossed the Rhine and Tony visited Belsen Concentration Camp, three days after it had been liberated. In spite of having seen all the terrible sights of war, it made him physically sick to see human beings being treated in such a manner, with the rotting corpses being bulldozed into mass graves.
Photo to Come
Lieutenant. Anthony Searle Baker
R.H.A.
� � �But I digress. It was in July of 1944 that my father finally returned from his trooping activities. Unfortunately he had contracted Yellow Fever, due to a faulty batch of serum. The result was that he was very seriously ill in a London hospital. I immediately put in for compassionate leave in order to see him over the weekend. For whatever reason, my request was refused. So I went anyway, hoping that I would not be caught. As usual I had no money, so I got on the train without a valid ticket. Saw father, who could almost have passed for a Chinaman, but he was desperately ill and it was feared that we would lose him.
� � �Just my luck when I caught the train back I was had up for travelling on the train without a ticket But my troubles for the day were by no means over, when I arrived back at camp I was immediately placed in the Guard Room under arrest. for being AWOL!
� � �On the Monday I went up to answer the charge and was given three weeks detention. This was the first time that I had been in jail and I didn't care for it one little bit. Don't mind sleeping rough when necessary, but sleeping on bare boards with one blanket and no pillow is not much fun. In addition, one of the inmates tried to rape me whilst I was taking a shower. This didn't go down too well with me as I was forced to defend myself. Only found out afterwards that this fellow was being held on a charge of sodomy!
� � �Eventually my civilian case came up about travelling on the train without a ticket. I was fined. but it meant that I'd now got a police record. Only hope that it's been destroyed after all these years?
� � �Father eventually recovered from his illness, but he was then restricted to Home postings only, going off to a Flying Training Establishment at Peterborough, where he remained until his demobilisation in 1946.
� � �It was shortly after this that our complete Establishment was moved up to Cosford in the Midlands. I have a feeling that it was due to the advent of the new blitz that came with the use of the V-1 and V-2 weapons. The Midlands are not my idea of a fun place, especially not Wolverhampton during the fifth year of the war. Dreary beyond description was the only way to describe it, especially at the weekends. The rain still poured down and nearly everything seemed to close during the times that we were allowed out. Although it was an instant charge for an Apprentice to be caught drinking, we made a beeline for the pubs, when they were open. This at least gave us a feeling of good cheer and it was good to be gathered around the piano singing the old songs. It was fortunate that we were never caught.
� � �It was whilst we were at Cosford that we first heard about the Meteor jet propelled aircraft. This had been introduced into service to fight the V-1, flying bomb threat . Never forget the first time that I saw one in the air, it looked so strange to see it flying without a propeller.
� � �The jet engine, as used in this new aircraft, had been invented by an ex Halton Apprentice called Frank Whittle, we were all most proud of his development.
1945
� � �With the over-running of the launching sites for the V weapons we returned to Halton early in the year. But for us the year signified the ending of our two and a half years training we took our final exams and trade tests in April, after which we would be posted, to squadron service. I am fifth from the left in the second row of the picture below.
Photo to Come
"A" squadron. 46th Entry, R.AF. Halton.
� � �In March a number of us applied for aircrew duties after we had successfully completed our training. Unfortunately at that time of the war there was thousands of fully trained aircrew who would never see action. Consequently our applications were turned down. .
� � �It was all just in time for Hitler's final demise in the ruins of Berlin. Victory in Europe was declared on May the eighth and the country went mad with joy. As happens on these occasions, we had been told that we could go out to celebrate but London was strictly, " Out of Bounds."
� � �Thinking that we could get away with it a friend and myself decided to go up and enjoy the festivities. This we duly did, arriving in town at about midday. What crowds there were and everyone was overjoyed to know that the European war was finally over.
� � �We drifted all over town from Trafalgar Square, the Strand, eventually joining the crowds outside Buckingham Palace, waiting for the King and Queen to appear. What a rousing welcome they got when they came out onto the balcony.
� � �When evening came the crowds made bonfires of the deck chairs in the parks and we all went to sleep it off, before catching the early morning milk train back to camp.
� � �It was only two weeks after, that I was called into Corporal Kemsley's office and he asked me if I had seen a picture in The Queen Magazine. When I said that I hadn't he showed it to me. There I was sitting on the bonnet of a lorry in Trafalgar Square, in spite of London having been declared out of bounds! In the end he decided to do nothing about it as we were so close to passing out, but it was a close run thing. It then became apparent that the majority of us would be destined to serve in the Far East as the war against Japan continued .
Photo to Come
� � �We passed out from Halton on the 25th.May. When with colours flying and bayonets fixed we paraded for inspection by Lord Trenchard. What a great day it was for all of us, after two and a half years we had graduated as tradesmen, from the best aeronautical school in the world.
� � �After the parade we immediately went on extended leave. I went home for a spell, then up to Liverpool to stay with my Godmother. It was hear that I heard of the dropping of the two Atomic bombs on Japan. , and the war was over. I immediately caught the train to London and joined in the all night celebrations that were in progress.
Photo to Come
David, on the bonnet, with a friend.
Click Here to Go To Chapter Four
----- David Newton Searle-Baker
Back to Prologue, or back to Chapter One, or Chapter Two
Many of the stories contained in the online James F. Justin Museum of Military History are now in paperback and kindle ebook format, with more coming, check out
How We Served, by John Kenneth Justin
Also, Please help this site preserve our history, become a Patron today! Become a Patron!
LINKS
BACK TO JUSTIN ORAL HISTORY AIR FORCE BIOGRAPHIES HISTORY PAGE
Please Share your Stories! E-mail me to share or discuss or with any questions!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This Page and Its Contents and all original pages linked thereto Are the Property of John Justin @ Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 All Rights Reserved
The URL of this page is
http://justinmuseum.com/jkjustin/Searlesbio4.html