Part 17 Demob

On arrival at the camp I was billeted in a Nissen hut along with about 20 hopefuls waiting patiently for their number to be called. We had to parade every morning, and then the numbers of those going on release were called out. It was rather frustrating as the numbers seemed to go up very slowly, and we were all impatient to get back to “civvy street”. We spent most of our time in the camp making briquettes, from piles of coal slack, and bags of concrete, within wooden frames. I hoped they burned O.K. as some of them seemed to have a lot more concrete in them than seemed necessary.

After about 3 weeks my number was called out, I think it was 162, and then I had to proceed to Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow to hand in all my service equipment as required, and collect my civilian attire.

I got a grey lounge suit, shirts, shoes, and a trilby, and when I came out of the stores it was with a great feeling of relief, knowing that I had survived, where thousands had not.

I said thanks to the man at the counter for my civvies beyond description. I also said thanks to the Lord up above for having spared me from is conscription.

Catching a train at Glasgow I went home to my parents’ house at Kelloholm, and they very kindly let Helen, and I, have their front bedroom upstairs, in which to set up house.

I now had to find a job as I had resigned from the job I was doing when called up to the forces. This was a job working for the Ordnance Survey Dept which entailed being in lodgings, and travelling all over the country. This was an interesting job for a single chap but not so good for a married man.

Helen’s brother John was a fireman in Manchester, and this was suggested as a possibility, so I decided to have a go, as John had told me that the Fire Brigade would eventually fix us up with a house. This seemed a good idea, as my assets consisted of Helen, sixty pounds savings, sixty pounds gratuity, and my demob suit.