Part 16 Service in Scotland

We travelled back across the channel and went back up again to Dundonald Camp.

I wrote to my mother, and Helen, and gave them all my news, and got theirs as well, as there was mail waiting for us on our return. Helen had now got a job as a cook at Prestwick Airport, and was helping to feed the American aircrews. There did not seem to be any shortages for the Yanks as I was told that if they ran out of chocolate the cooks just boiled some Mars bars to make chocolate sauce.

Helen found a room with a family in Ayr, so that it was very handy for both of us.

The Bombardment Unit was disbanded (Many years later I learned that the job is done by the Royal Marines. Info from the new bursar at Rossall School, Fleetwood, who was a former commander in the Royal Navy) and I was then posted to an L.C.I.S. (Landing Craft Infantry Small) 2503, which was stationed at Troon, and run personnel and stores, mail etc, from Troon to Arran where there was a military base. Out in the open sea the little boat bobbed about like a cork, and for the first time in my service, I was seasick. The crew of about 20 were very sympathetic, as most of them had suffered in a similar fashion. Conditions on the boat were very cramped, and it was possible to hold a conversation sat on a lavatory seat, over the top of a half size door with a colleague who could be having his dinner.

About this time lists were issued of numbers relating to a person’s discharge date, which was based upon the length of service; first in, first out, except for a few highly specialised jobs.

I spent most of the time on the boat employed as a seaman as there was no telegraphy required and when in post took my turn at sentry duty on the gangway.

After about one month of this, I was told to go to the lieutenant’s office who was oi/c the boat, and he gave me the necessary travel permits to go to Cookham camp in the south of England. This was a dispersal point for personnel whose release number would soon be coming up.