The Incendiary Bomb, the Pot Plant, and the Maharaja

This story was submitted by Bob Hill at the BBC Three Counties Archive Day in Luton. He agrees to the story being included on the site, and understands the terms and conditions.

I Joined the RAF on April 10th 1941, and was number 1231954. I had tried to join up earlier, and had registered back in June 1939. I was eventually called for a medical at Acton in October or November of that year. They simply hadn’t got the equipment to do them any earlier. As it was, I was classed as “medically unfit” and sent away. I was actually told that “we’ll be in a bad way if we need you!”

So I went home, and joined the ARP in Harpenden and continued my work as a grocer. I remember during the Coventry raids, some incendiaries were dropped near Harpenden station. I had to go into a woman’s scullery to put one out. She was in a bit of a tiswas at the time! Anyway, we were supposed to put these things out using a stirrup pump, but I didn’t have one with me. So, I pulled a fir tree out of a nearby plant pot, and dumped the soil on it. I’ve still got the tail fin actually. I’ve painted the names of all the people in the unit at the time on it. Unit E9 we were. I have to say I don’t remember feeling frightened at all, although I think I realised the next day what might have happened.

I tried to volunteer four or five times after that, and was eventually accepted. I signed up, and was tested for a trade to take. I was assigned as Flight Mechanic Air Frame 2nd Class. After two or three days at Cardington, I was sent home for four or five weeks before being called up; they were so short of materials.

So there I was, finally in the RAFVR. I reported to Blackpool on April 10th, and on the 11th went to watch the football.

I remember going to collect our kit. It was thrust at us left, right and centre. We packed our kitbag, and then had to walk to an address where we had been billeted.

I also remember drill training and rifle drill. Our first rifles were just wooden shapes! I actually only fired a rifle once during the whole war. It was on the range at Fleetwood. I was deafened. We only had five rounds each as they were so short of ammunition.

We had our passing out parade on the prom.

I was sent for mechanics training to Squires Gate where we had both oral and practical exams. I had never handled tools before, but did alright with the oral work. I eventually passed the practical as well, and passed out with 72% and went to do my fitters course. I passed in December and can well remember the snow.

I was sent to Heston, the same place that Chamberlain had waved his piece of paper. I was billeted with a lovely family. They had three girls, Sybil, Brenda and Janice. I recall that the first night I stayed there, I got to me room and there was a hot water bottle in the bed — it was the first time I had ever had one. I was at Heston until April, and then went to work on Spitfires and Lysanders with 61OTU in Shropshire. I didn’t like it there. The food was ok, just not enough of it. I managed to swap a posting with a friend. He was due to go to Cranfield, but thought it was Canwell in Lincolnshire, and didn’t fancy being that remote! So, I went instead, and ended up being billeted at Woburn Sands. I hitched home and picked my bike up, which proved very useful later. I was sent for training on Beaufighters, but when I got back, they were switching to Spitfires.

I went to a dance at Woburn Sands, and met a girl called Millie, then aged 16. I stayed at Cranfield with 3501 Servicing Unit until 1944, painting the black and white lines under the aircraft. We worked on Mustangs, fitting drop tanks to give extra fuel to cover Europe. Each aircraft that arrived came with its own set of tools. I was going to keep one, but couldn’t manage to take it with me when, after D-Day, the unit moved to Middle Wallop. I stayed behind, being one of the last to leave, to see more of Nellie.

When we eventually got off the lorry, the first words we heard were “on boat”, and the next day we were off to Blackpool to be kitted out. We had to have a gun with us, and I was issued with a Sten gun. You could take it apart and pack it in your kit bag, so it was much more convenient than a rifle! We were kept waiting around for a while, so I went AWOL to see Nellie. I was put on a charge, but never heard anymore about it. The next day we sailed. We went up to the Clyde, and saw the Queen Mary. Instead of getting on her though we boarded the Orion, part of the Orient Line. Yes, it was a clue!

It took about 27 days to sail through the Med and to the Far East. We disembarked at Bombay and went into a transit camp before being posted to 307 Maintenance Unit at Lahore. I didn’t like it very much there, and volunteered to go to Jodpur with the 319 MU instead. The Maharaja there gave Christmas parties in the palace for the RAF. I’d never had such a meal in my life! He even had a cinema in the palace, and we saw “The song of Bernadette” which was a new film. I liked it there!

When I finally got home in April 1946, I had lost touch with Nellie, but wrote to her to say I was back. She invited me to go and see her, and we were married in Woburn Sands on July 16th 1947.

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