CD3

(57 mins)

3/1

WW2 / JOINING AIRFORCE AS TRANSPORT DRIVER / WESTONZOYLAND

WW2. Was at chemist's at outbreak of war. Called up to Blackpool. In MT lorries. Spent 2 years at Westonzoyland. Was transport driver. Had special licence to drive anything in airforce. Loved it at Westonzoyland. Was there at invasion. [Back to top]
 

3/2

WAR SERVICE / POSTING TO NORTHERN ITALY / COVERED 8^TH ARMY / FRONT LINE WITH AUSTRALIANS / STAYING WITH AUSTRALIANS

Was on 24 hours leave at Winsford when posted overseas. Waited a fortnight in Blackpool. Bumped into a niece there. When they embarked the army was there with fixed bayonets making sure they got on the boat. He didn't like that. They weren't sure where they were going. At sea 10 days being chased by submarines. Disembarking at Naples. Trouble getting ashore.

He covered the 8^th army. They called him Jock. Posted in front line with Australians. Got waders from store. Couldn't see each other for mud. Asked to stay with Australians. Stayed until end of war. [Back to top]
 

3/3

RESTING IN FLORENCE / AUSTRALIANS ETC ATTITUDE TO RANK / PREPARING TO BOMB TRIESTE / 13 DAYS OFF

Sent back to Florence for a rest. A proper hotel, better than it had been with the English. New Zealand, Australian and South African men. Unit was right up in North of Italy. No difference between the ranks. Met man called Jones, from Simonsbath. Trieste. They were going to bomb the Russians who wouldn't leave. Heavy drivers went back the line for 13 days, ferrying bombs and petrol. On 13^th day Russians piled down and General Friberg called it off. He [?the Adjutant] told them to take a lorry and rations and take 13 days off. [tells story, break in voice]. [Back to top]
 

3/4

END OF WAR / RUNNING AUSTRIAN HOTEL / FANNY / AUSTRALIANS / EJECTING BRIGADIER

Then war was over, all English, South Africans came together on big airfield and had fly past, then they were sent back to their units. He [LAC Baker] was posted to hotel in South Austria, with South Africans, New Zealanders, Australians and a couple of English, because of his experience in domestic service. Describes time there, running hotel. Tells story about Fanny, a Yugoslav girl.

Stayed there a couple of months. Australians were equal, no difference in rank. High ranking Brigadier General there one night told him off for sitting in presence of superiors. Young officer ejected Brigadier. [Back to top]
 

 3/5

COMING OUT / COMING HOME / EFFECTS OF WAR SERVICE

Had bigger medical test coming out than going in, a week of tests. Sent to Annisford for 1 night. Given civilian clothes. On his own in civilian street. Flabbergasted, had always taken orders. Got to Taunton at 5am. Got lift in PO van to Minehead. Was living at top of Poundfield Road. He'd sent wife a telegram saying he'd arrived in England. Knocked on front door at 6.30. His wife came down and opened the front door and his little boy didn't know him, he stayed on the stairs and cried [voice breaks].

 'My wife told me afterwards that the first weekend I was home she thought I'd gone round the bend, I'd altered so.' [Back to top]
 

3/6

HILDA FROM AUSTRIAN HOTEL / CONTRAST TO TAKING ORDERS / GETTING ON WITH AUSTRALIANS / WAR STORY

Tells story about bumping into Hilda, waitress from Austrian hotel, 2 years later when on holiday in Bournemouth with his wife and son. They all spent the day together. His son was 4 then. It didn't take long to get to know him.

When he got back from the war all he wanted to do was sleep. 4 or 5 years of being told what to do [voice breaks], he'd been used to taking orders. He got on with Australians better than English. Tells war story.  'Oh, I've had some wonderful experiences, you know. I was lucky to come out of it alive'. [Back to top]
 

3/7

WAR SERVICE / ADJUSTING / HAWKINS CHEMIST / WESTONZOYLAND

Liberation. War service. Was in charge of 3 lorries. One called Somerset, second in convoy.

Didn't do much when he got home. It took 2 or 3 days to get over. 2 weeks later went back to work in Hawkins chemist. Talks about friends dying. 'It's terrible seeing your mates go.' At Westonzoyland planes would come over from France and crash. They would change the lights so that lost planes could get their bearings. [Back to top]