In 1939 and 1940, I ran in the school cross country race over about four miles, coming about thirtieth out of about 120 runners on my second attempt. As I was only 15 and there were 16 and 17 year old boys running I thought that was not a bad result. I recall that as I approached the finish one teacher called out "Well done, Turner".
School Certificate came in June 1940. The Germans had just overrun Belgium, Holland and France so things were looking a bit grim for Britain but nevertheless the exams took place. When the summer holidays started my brother and I went working with several other boys, mornings only, in woods near Scawby sawing pine tree trunks for use as pit-props in coal mines. I think we were paid 5 pence per hour. The summer holiday was shortened so that another two weeks off school could be given in the autumn for youngsters to work in agriculture.
Looking back to 1940 I realise that children at that time had little or no idea of the peril we were in. If the Germans had not attacked Russia but had concentrated their efforts solely against Britain the war might have had a very different outcome.
Soon after school restarted the School Certificate results arrived. I had credits in English, English Literature, French, Latin, Physics, Chemistry, Maths and History and a miserable pass in Geography. Of the boys staying at school after School Cert those who had done well enough progressed to the sixth form while others went into a form called Remove to have another attempt the following year. In the sixth form pupils had to make a choice, between Maths and Science or Modern Studies. Modern Studies meant languages, literature and English. I chose Maths and Science.
When the autumn holiday came my brother and I went to a farm at Wrawby to pull and bag carrots. We were paid five shillings a day - riches to us - but most of it went to Mother.
I was not very happy in the few months I spent in the sixth form, probably because I knew I was likely to go into the navy. When the results of the navy exam came I was high enough up the list to be able to choose to go into the electrical branch. The other choices were engine room or ordnance.
I also lost time at school because when I had my medical for the navy at Derby I was told that I had to be circumcised before I could be accepted. The job was done at Scunthorpe hospital. I did not know then that it was normal surgical practice to shave areas adjacent to the part of the anatomy to be operated on, so you can imagine what I thought was going to happen when a screen was put round my bed and a man came in carrying an open cut-throat razor.
Looking back it seems silly that I should have stayed at school until two days before going into the navy; it might have been more sense to have taken a job, however menial, for a few weeks. Eventually I was told that I had to be at Torpoint, Cornwall, on 24 February 1941. That was a Monday and I went to school on the Saturday morning.
It was mid-term so no-one else was leaving and I had to take my text books to the book room where headmaster Daughton said goodbye to me with tears in his eyes. I thought the tears were for me but as I grew older I realised that he was grieving for a whole generation.
I wrote to him once or twice and I think he was pleased to learn that unlike many of my new acquaintances I had not started smoking. I still regard smoking as the eighth wonder of the world and cannot understand how anyone can take up such a foolish habit.
1 comment:
Re Hitler's invasion of Russia...Hitler outlined his intention to purge the 'inferior races' in the East in Mein Kampf.
Any future war, he suggested, would be superior races victory over slavs, Jews and etc.
Hitler viewed the British as fellow Ayrians....and there were factions in the British hierarchy, such as Lord Halifax, Mosely, as well as Edward & Wallis Simpson who supported the Nazi ideologies and/or wanted Britain to capitulate.
In 1940, France had fallen comparatively easily and then Hitler started to implement Operation Sealion for the invasion of Britain.
By this time, Churchill had become prime minister.
Important in Hitler's conception was the threat of an invasion would make Britain surrender.
Operation Sealion needed Germany to demonstrate supremacy over Britain's air and naval power along the south coast/North Sea.
The Battle of Britain was essentially the first occasion that the Luftwaffe fought against an air force of, at least, equal superiority/skill.
By September, Hitler postponed Operation Sealion.
Historians now say that even if the German forces had invaded Britain, there were critical weaknesses in Hitler's plans. There were significant shortfalls in the German's logistical support...they didn't have appropriate landing craft and they lacked the facilities to supply the landing forces once an initial invasion had been achieved.
Historians describe the potential landing as a German Dunkirk.
Turning Hitler's attention to East was multi-fold..it would fulfil his passion to defeat the 'inferior races' as portrayed in his Mein Kampf - 1925 and the capture of land , industries and ore/oil fields would eradicate the German need to import vital goods and which the RN was seriously disrupting...thus, creating a British perception that Germany was too powerful....subsequently capitulating to Nazi's superiority.
Despite initial successes, his Operation Barbarossa was grossly unsuccessful...and by D Day, Germany was fighting on two fronts.
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