[2002] SID’S WAR

0015 - Sidney Lane War Diary 2

[this is an extract of the war diary, 'An Ordinary War', by my uncle (Sid Lane, my mother's brother) which covers Call-Up/Mobilisation 1939]

16.7.39

Time marches on and it is becoming quite a routine matter to attend drills on Monday and Wednesday evenings. We are now quite conversant with the 3" guns and the drill of bringing them into action. The 3.7" is still a bit more complicated and we are only just beginning to use them. Each man must be able to do the job of every other man in the team and there are ten men to this gun. As, however, we go to camp in six weeks time, each man has been given a set job till afterwards, when we shall return to normal drill.

Bob and I being telephonists (a duty we volunteered for in the early days), were allotted work as ammunition numbers, which was a little disappointing, but which could have been expected. In connection with this work as telephonists, Bob, who had already had one all night exercise in conjunction with the R.A.F., reports favourably. According to him the work was interesting and the grub and conditions very good. I will be able to satisfy myself on this point next week when we go together on a similar stunt. The only article of clothing which we have got up to now is a pair of boots, and these are in the process of being broken in. The number of chaps I know who have joined the Regiment increases each week and there are now five Port Sunlight Rovers [when younger, Sidney had been a Scout and Rover Scout; and was very involved in such outdoor activities. Joining the TA had, therefore, been in some ways a natural extension to this] beside myself - four of whom are in our Battery.

The Rover Scouts prewar

In the Office there are six of us and the pass-word,"What cheer Gunner?" greets you at every turn. Yes! it seems a popular thing to be in the Ack-Ack [Anti-Aircaft] - except with the management, and with the single men who suffered a blow when it was announced that for the additional period of camp they would receive no pay.

30.8.39.

It seems very odd to me that my next entry here should be to record being mobilized. But there it is. Due to the antics of Messrs. Hitler, Goering and Goebels, the Anti-Aircraft Defences of the country have been called up.

Sid in uniform

Training had been going on steadily in the weeks preceding and we had each been issued with a uniform in preparation for a months camp. So it was in some sort of order that we fell in at the call. This call we received by phone on Thursday 24th August at about 3 p.m. It caused quite a little stir in the office, and we had to undergo quite a lot of chaff and received no end of advice. We reported at the H.Q. at about 6.30 p.m., but we were told we were not required until the next day. We shouldered our kit and departed home, much disgruntled at the lack of organisation that had brought us out on a wild duck hunt.

The following day we reported at 9.a.m. and after being inspected by the M.O. [medical officer] and pronounced fit, received our embodiment pay of £5. We were told that our particular battery, 288, would be allowed to go home each night until such time as we were sent away. The other batteries had already gone to various gun sites. We lounged about all day and were permitted to go home at 5.p.m.

The next day (Saturday), we paraded at 9.p.m. and were told we were to unload an ammunition train. We did a bit of drill and so forth till 4.p.m. We were then told that the train would arrive at night. The section commanders drew lots and section 2 got the job of unloading. We were dismissed, but paraded again at 8.p.m. From 8 till 10 we were kept hanging about and were then taken by lorry to Upton station [on the outskirts of Birkenhead] to wait a further two hours for the train's arrival. Then came the job and we worked like Trojans, carting these 1 cwt shells to the dump at Upton. The work was very heavy, but after our inactivity we fairly reveled in it and finished our allotted portion by about 3.30 a.m.

We were then free till 9.a.m. on Monday when we paraded and had more foot drill.

Tuesday found Bob on guard and myself with the rest receiving instruction on the 4.5" now at Oxton [in, well-to-do, the suburbs of Birkenhead]. Much comment was made about the inefficiency of 267 Bty. who were manning these guns. It certainly seemed a shame that a battery which had used only 3" guns and which numbered so many recruits in its numbers, should have charge of them. While such splendid Gunners (Ahem!!), as ourselves were kept hanging about. The same procedure took place on Wednesday and that brings me up to date and I can breathe.

Bob and Sid in uniform

I must record how much happier I have been over this crisis than that in September. I feel I have done something and although I did experience a peculiar feeling on being mobilized, I soon settled down and began to enjoy the companionship of the jolly chaps here , who treat the whole business as a huge joke. Tomorrow we parade at 10.a.m. and on Friday we go under canvas at Arrowe Park [a large park on the outskirts of Birkenhead] -Good Night.

[back] [home]

hits