Ernie Oates - 2 Recce

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Recce_Mitch, May 14, 2011.

  1. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    I have been in contact with Ernie Oates a 2 Recce Veteran and he has given me permission to post this.

    April 4, 2011 at 1:00am

    HI PAUL,

    MY NAME IS ERNIE OATES AND I LIVVE IN TOWNSVILLE N`TH QUEENSLAND, I FOUGHT WITH 2 RECCE AT KOHIMA AND DURING THE REST OF THE CAMPAIGN IN BURMA, I WAS ALSO WITH THE 1ST CAMERONS AND WITH 2 DIV. A/TANK REGT IN FRANCE 1940 AND EVACUATED FROM DUNKIRK .---I AM NEW TO THE COMPUTER AND I WAS PLEASED TO FIND YOUR WEB SITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE, YOUR CASUALTY LIST OF 2 RECCE BROUGHT BACK SAD MEMORIES OF MATES LEFT BEHIND BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.---I HAVE TO TYPE IN CAPITALS AS I HAVE MACULAR DEGENERATION, I CAN`T SEE TO READ OR WRITE BUT I CAN USE THE COMPUTER WITH THE ON SCREEN MAGNIFYER AND ON SCREEN KEYBOARD, A BIT SLOW BUT BETTER THAN NOTHING, AS THEY SAY WHEN ONE DOOR SHUTS ANOTHER DOOR OPENS, APART FROM THAT AT 92 QUITE WELL, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.--- ERNIE.
     
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  2. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Saturday, 9 April 2011 8:22:28 PM

    HI PAUL,

    SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN ANSWERING YOUR MESSAGE BUT BECAUSE OF MY POOR VISION I GOT A BIT MIXED UP WITH FACEBOOK; BUT WITH SANDRA`S HELP IT GOT SORTED OUT, THE TROUBLE IS SHE LIVES IN BRISBANE, NEARLY A THOUSAND MILES AWAY.--- I` LL GET ON WITH THE REAL SUBJECT OF OUR EMAILS---I SUPPOSE I BETTER START WITH HOW 2 RECCE CAME ABOUT,---SOME OF IT YOU MAY KNOW, AND OF COURSE MY MEMORY MIGHT BE A BIT RUSTY ( LIKE ME ), AFTER 70 YEARS, BUT YOU CAN SORT THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF.---IN EARLY 1940 BEFOR HOSTILITIES BEGAN, THE ARMY DECIDED TO FORM AN A \ TANK REGT .FROM EACH DIVISION, THEY TOOK A PLATOON FROM EACH BATTALION IN A BRIGADE, EQUIPT THEM WITH THREE FRENCH 25 M.M. A \ TANK GUNS, THIS THEN BECAME A BRIGADE A / TANK COY. THREE BGDS. BECAME THE DIVS. A \ TANK REGT.---AFTER DUNKIRK THE ARMY DECIED TO FORM A RECCE REGT FOR EACH DIV.- IN MY CASE 2ND.DIV. A \ TANK REGT.JONED 6TH. LOYALS REGT. AND BECAME 2ND. DIV. RECCE REGT---WE GUARDED THE COAST OF YORKSHIRE FOR SOMETIME IN CASE OF GERMAN INVASION, BUT WHEN THAT THREAT EVAPORATED WE WERE SHIPPED OUT TO INDIA, ONE OF OUR JOBS WAS TO QUELL RIOTS AGAIST THE BRITISH RAJ, IN MANY CITIES AND TOWNS. IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT JOB MOVING THROUGH NARROW STREETS AND BEING PELTED WITH ROCKS AND ALL SORTS OF UNMENTIONABLE RUBBISH, WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOOT UNLESS FIRED UPON AND ONLY ON THE ORDER OF AN INDIIAN OFFICAL ATTACHED TO THE PATROL.---WE WERE STATIONED IN POONA FOR SOME TIME AND 2 RECCE SUPPLIED THE GUARD FOR MAHATMA GHANDI WHO WAS UNDER HOUSE ARREST, HE WAS FREE TO WALK AROUND AND I REMEMBER SEEING HIM IN THE GARDEN. ---WHEN THE JAPS ATTACKED KOHIMA 2ND. DIV. WAS RUSHED FROM POONA BY TRUCK ACROSS INDIA TO BURMA, ( 2000 MILES,) THE ROADS WERE MOSTLY DIRT, WE SAW A LOT OF INDIA BUT WE SWALLOWED A LOT OF IT TOO.---ON ARRIVAL AT KOHIMA AREA 2 DIIV. HAD TO ATTACK WITH WHAT THEY HAD AS THE REGTS. WERE STRUNG OUT FOR MILES BEHIND ON THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE THROWN IN AS THEY ARRIVIED, AS WELL AS SURROUNDING KOHIMA THE JAPS HAD CUT THE ROAD AND ESTABLISHED A ROAD BLOCK ABOUT SEVEN MILES FROM KOHIMA, THE 1ST CAMERONS OF 5 BGDE. WITH RECCE DOING THEIR BIT, BROKE THROUGH AND DESTROYED THE JAP DEFENCES, BUT THAT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE, THE ENEMY STILL HELD MOST OF KOHIMA.---CONDITIONS WERE APPALLING, HEAT, HUMIDITY, RATS,,SNAKES, SCORPIONS, LEACHES TYPHUS TICKS, FLIES BY THE MILLION, STEEP MOUNTAINS COVERED IN HEAVY JUNGLE, STINK OF DEAD BODIES SOME WHERE IN THE JUNGLE SOMETIMES THE JAPS WERE THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES.---NOT MUCH IS SAID ABOUT 2 RECCE AT KOHIMA ( I SOMEETIMES THINK WE WER`NT THERE ) I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE VERY RARELY TOGETHER AS A REGT. EVEN AS A COMPANY, MOST OF THE TME WE WERE SPLIT UP, A PLATOON TO THE CAMERONS ONE TO THE DORSETS, ONE TO THE WORCETERS; ETC.--- II`LL CLOSE THIS EMAIL AT THIS POINT AS IT TAKES ME HOURS SQUINTING AT THE SCREEN AND I NEED A BREAK, ALSO I DON`T WANT TO BORE YOU, SO LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS THE KIND OF INFORMATION YOU WANT, ASK ME AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU LIKE AND I`LL TRY AND ANSWER THEM, WOULD YOU LIKE SOME OF MY OWN LITTLE EXPLOITS? I PROMISE NOT TO BORE YOU. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON ---ERNIE.
     
  3. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Monday, 11 April 2011 7:47:28 PM

    HI PAUL,

    I` LL START WHERE I LEFT OFF, AT KOHIMA.---2 RECCE AT ONE TIME AT KOHIMA GOT TOGETHER AND TOOK OVER THE DEFENCE OF ARADURA SPUR, A 7OOO F00T HIGH PEAK AND HELD IT FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS ON ONE PINT OF WATER A DAY FOR EACH MAN, SHORTAGE OF WATER WAS A PROBLEM AS CREEKS AND RIVERS WERE DOWN IN THE VALLEYS AND IF YOU WERE LUCKY TO HAVE A WATERHOLE NEARBY, THE JAPS HAD A NASTY HABIT OF THROWING DEAD BODDIES IN THE WATER, AND TO GO LOOKING FOR WATER WAS RISKY AS MOST OF THE TIME THERE WAS NO REAL FRONT LINE, THE JAPS WERE EVERY WHERE, EVEN FOR FIRST AID STATIONS THERE WERE NO SAFE AREAS, THEY WERE OFTEN ATTACKED BY JAP PATROLS AND MEDICS AND WOUNDED KILLED .EVEN THOUGH WE HAD BROKEN THROUGH, THE ONE ROAD WAS DANGEROUS TO USE AND ALL SUPLIES HAD TO BE DROPPED BY PARACHUTE, IF THE WND WAS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION THE ENEMY GOT IT.---SHORTAGE OF WATER WAS THE WORST, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A PINT A DAY, YOU NEEDED ALMOST ALL OF IT FOR DRINKING PUROOSES, WASHING WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION, AND AS WE WORE THE SAME CLOTHES FOR MANY DAYS YOU CAN GUESS BO. WAS RIFE, BUT WE ALL HAD THE SAME SWEATY SMELL . MANY MEN GREW SHAGGY BEARDS, NOT WANTING TO WASTE WATER, THEIR APPEARANCE MUST HAVE FRIGHTENED HELL OUT OF THE JAPS WHEN WE ATTACKED, BIG HAIRY MONSTERS APPEARING OUT OF THE JUUNGLE..---THINGS GOT A BIT QUIET ON ARADURA SPUR SO WE WENT OUT ON A RECCE, THE ENEMY HAD GONE IN THE NIGHT,, AS WE REACHED THEIR POSITIONS A SHOT RANG OUT , WE DIVED FOR COVER, BUT TOO LATE FOR MY PLATOON COMMANDER, HE HAD BEEN KILLED BY A SNIPER LEFT BEHIND BY THE ENEMY, AS I WAS PLATOON SGT. I BECAME ACTING PLATOON COMMANDER AND REMAINED SO FOR THE REST OF THE CAMPAIGN.---BEFORE WE LEFT INDIA THE ARMY HAD TAKEN OUR SMALL ARMOURED CARS FROM US AND SENT THEM BACK TO THE UK FOR D.DAY, SO WE SLOGGED OUR WAY THROUGH BURMA ( THE HARD WAY ) ON FOOT.---IT WAS HARD, WHEN THE MONSOONS BROKE THE RAIN SOLVED THE WATER PROBLEM BUT IT MADE CLIMBING THE STEEP JUNGLE COVERED SLOPES EVEN HARDER, ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO SLIDING BACK, AND TO ADD TO OUR MISERY, BEING SOAKED TO THE SKIN NIGHT AND DAY FOR WEEKS.---ONE OF THE FEIRCEST AREAS OF FIGHTING WAS FOR THE COMMISHIONERS BUNGALOW AND TENNIS COURT, WE WERE DUG IN AT ONE END OF THE COURT AND THEY WERE DUG IN AT THE OTHER, WE COULD HEAR EACH OTHER TALKING, HAND GREADES WERE TOSSED BACK AND FORTH LIKE TENNS BALLS, ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THE JAP GRENADE, IT HAD A DETONATOR STICKING OUT OF ONE END AND HAD TO BE STRUCK ON SOMETHING HARD TO SET IT OFF AND AS WE WERE SO CLOSE WE COULD HEAR IT AND KNEW WHEN TO PULL OUR HEADS IN. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINEERS WINCHED A TANK UP THE SLOPES AND BLASTED THE JAP BUNKERS TO BITS, THE 2ND DORSETS AND 2 ECCE ATTACKED ACROSS THE COURT AND THE BBUNGALOW WAS OURS ,I T WAS GAME SET AND MATCH FOR THE BRITS. THE BATTLE FOR KOHIMA LASTED 40 DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS NON STOP, AND 61 DAYS TO CLEAR ALL ENEMY FORCES. WHEN THE FIGHTING ENDED KOHIMA WAS CLEAR OF ALL JUNGLE, JUST SHELL CRATERS EVERY WHERE.---THE BATTLE OF KOHIMA ENDED THE JAPANESE DOMINANCE OF BURMA, IT WAS A HUGE MORAL BOOSTER FOR US, WE KNEW THAT WE COULD NOW BEAT THEM AT THEIR OWN GAME.—I` LL SEE IF I HAVE ANY SUITABLE PHOTOS TO SEND TO YOU WITH MORE HIGHLIGHTS OF BURMA AND FRANCE.---ALL FOR NOW---ERNIE
     
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  4. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Thursday, 14 April 2011 2:31:23 PM

    HI PAUL,

    YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED I`VE BEEN SAYING PLATOONS INSTEAD OF TROOPS, EVENTUALLYRECCEREGTS WERE TAKEN OVER BY RAC, SECTIONS BECAME SQUADS, PLATOONS BECAME TROOPS, COYS. SQUAUDRONS ETC. SO I SUPPSE I SHOULD GIVE THEM THEIR PROPER TITLE.--- SOMETIMES WE HAD MULES TO CARRY HEAVY EQUIPMENT, THERE WAS A RULE THAT YOU COULD ONLY LOAD SO MUCH POUNDAGE ONTO A MULE, BUT THE SAME RULE DID NOT APPLY TO THE POOR OLD INFANTRYMAN; A LARGE BACKPACK CONTAINING ALL HIS BELONGINGS,TWO POUCHES CONTAINING SPARE FULL MAGAZINES FOR THE BREN GUN, HIS OWN WEAPON AND SPARE AMMO., TWO OR THREE HAND GRENADES A LARGE KNIFE FOR HACKING THROUGH THE JUNGLE, AND A STOUT ROPE WITH A TOGGLE AT ONE END AND A LOOP AT THE OTHER, THE ROPES COULD BE EASILY JOINED TOGETHER FOR CROSSING RIVERS 0R SCALING CLIFFS ETC.--- IF YOU WERE LUCKY AND GOT BEHIND A MULE YOU COULD GRAB IT`S TAIL AND GET A HAND UP THE STEEP HILLSIDE, THE MULES DID NOT LIKE IT AND YOU HAD TO WATCH OUT FOR FLYING HOOVES.---AS WELL AS THE USUAL TROPICAL DISEASES SEVERAL MEN DIED FROM ANTHRAX CONTRACTED FROM THE MULES.---AFTER KOHIMA THE FIGHTING WAS JUST AS FEIRCE BUT NOT SO CONFINED AND 2 RECCE CARRIED ON WITH THEIR NORMAL RECCE. WORK.---MY TROOP WAS THE ASSAULT TROOP IN THE SQDRN. WHEN THE RECCE TROOP FOUND THE ENEMY AND IT WAS CONSIDERED A SMALL FORCE, MY TROOP WAS CALLED UP TO CLEAR THEM.---ANOTHER TASK MY TROOP GOT WAS LONG DISTANCE PATROLS, AWAY ON OUR OWN FOR TWO OR MORE DYS., SEACHING SMALL VILLAGES FOR JAP STRAGGLERS.---ON ONE OF THOSE TRIPS WE HAD TO SEARCH A VILLAGE ABOUT FOUR DAYS AWAY FROM OUR BASE, WE CARRIED AS MUCH FOOD AS WE COULD, PLUS SOME EMERGENCY PACKS AND SET OFF.--- AFTER TRAVELLING ALONG THE MOUMTAIN TRACK FOR MOST OF THE DAY A STRONG SMELL OF DEAD BODIES WAFTED THROUGH THE AIR, WE WENT ROUND A BEND; AND THERE WERE TWO DEAD MULES LYING ACROSS THE TRACK, THE STENCH WAS HORRIBLE AND AS THE TRACK HAD A STEEP FACE ON ONE SIDE AND FELL AWAY VERY SHARPLY ON THE OTHER; WE HAD TO STEP OVER THEM TRYING NOT TO TOUCH THEM, WE CARRIED THE SMELL WITH US FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TIILL WE WASHED THE BOTTOM OF OUR TROUSERS AND BOOTS IN A MOUNTAIN STREAM, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY ONE IN THE AREA, IT LOOKED LIKE THE ENEMY HAD AMBUSHED THEM AND KILLED OR CAPTURED THE ESCORT AND HAD TAKEN WHATEVER THE MULES HAD BEEN CARRYING.---AFTER A FEW MORE DAYS MARCHING WE REACHED THE VILLAGE AND THE HEADMAN TOLD US THAT ABOUT TEN JAPS HAD LEFT TWO DAYS BEFORE, IT WAS NO USE FOR US TO GO LOOKING FOR THEM, THEY COULD BE ANYWHERE AND WE HAD TO GET BACK TO BASE BEFORE THEY MOVED ON.---I HAD AN OFFICER TEMPORARY ATTACHCHED TO MY TROOP AND HE DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD TAKE A SHORT CUT AND GO DOWN TO THE VALLEY AND CUT ACROSS COUNTRY, THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA IN MOUNTAINS COVERED IN JUNGLE, THERE ARE MANY GULLIES AND SWIFT FLOWING STREAMS, NO TRACKS, AND THE JUNGLE IS VERY THICK IN THE VALLEYS ANYWAY HE INSISTED AND WE VERY SOON GOT LOST.---THERE WAS A KNOLL CLOSE BY A BIT BARE ON TOP AND I SAID I WOULD GO UP TO SEE THE BEST DIRECTION TO HEAD FOR, HALF WAY UP I WAS SKIRTING A SMALL RAVINE WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPED AND DOWN THE STEEP SLOPE I TUMBLED, STRIKINN MY HEAD ON A TREE AS I ROLLED OVER AND OVER, EVENTUALY COMING TO REST AGAINST A LARGE TREE WHICH KEPT ME FROM SLIDING FURTHER; I WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND APART FROM A SORE HEAD AND A FEW BRUISES I SEEMED TO BE OK. HOWEVER THE TUMBLE SLOWED ME DOWN A LOT AND I REALISED I WOULD HAVE TO HURRY TO GET DOWN BEFORE DARK, IT GETS DARK QUICKLY IN THE TROPICS, NO TWILIGHT.--- I NEVER MADE IT IN TIME, NOT ONLY WAS IT PITCH BLACK BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHERE THE TROOP WAS, AND YOU CAN`T MOVE THROUGH THE UNDERGROWTH AT NIGHT, I WAS WEARY AND SORE, SO THE MOST SENSIBLE THING FOR ME TO DO WAS TO HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT AND TRY TO HAVE A GOOD NIGHT`S SLEEP.---NOT AN EASY THING TO DO IN THE JUNGLE, YOU COULD WAKE UP AND FIND YOURSELF HAVING BREAKFAST WITH A COUPLE OF WILD BOARS OR A TIGER, AND YOU ARETHEBREAKFAST, AND THERE`S THE ODD ELEPANT TRAMPLING AROUND.--- HOWEVER I WAS SO TIRED I SOON DROPPED OFF, HAD ABOUT FIVE HOURS GOOD SLEEP , DOZED ON AND OFF TILL NEARLY DAYLIGHT, HAD SOMETHING TO EAT, THEN HEADED OUT OF THE VALLEY AND UP THE HILLSIDE, I NEW I HAD TO HEAD EAST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THERE WERE A FEW WELL WORN ANIMAL TRACKS SO I FOLLWED THE ONES HEADING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION WHENEVER I COULD, HOPI NG THEY WOULD NOT LEAD ME TO THEIR DEN---I PLODDED ON FOR AOTHER FIVE OR SIX DAYS GETTING MORE TIRED EACH DAY, I WAS NOW USING MY EMERGENCY RATIONS BUT I NEEDED A GOOD SOLID MEAL TO KEEP ME GOING, I EVETUALLY GOT ON TO A WIDER TRACK THAT LED TO A BETTER ONE, AFTER ABOUT A MILE ALONNG IIT THERE WAS THAT HORRIBLE SMELL AND THERE WERE THE TWO DEAD MULES, ( I COULD HAVE KISSED THEM,) I NOW KNEW WHERE I WAS AND WOULD BE BACK AT BASE THAT DAY, I FOUND SOME WILD BANANAS THAT GAVE ME A BIT MORE ENERGY AND REACHED BASE JUST BEFORE DARK,---MY TROOP HAD GOT BACK THE DAY BEFORE SO EVERYTHING TURNED OUT WELL.---I SEEM TO BE RAMBLING ON FOR AGES, SO I`LL CLOSE THIS ONE AND SEND IT OFF.---MORE TO FOLLOW.---CHEERS, ERNIE.
     
  5. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Sunday, 17 April 2011 12:02:16 PM

    I THOUGHT I`D TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT US, MY WIFE LAURA AND I CAME OUT TO AUS. FROM GLASGOW IN 1951, WE HAVE ONE DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON HERE IN TOWNSVILLE AND TWO DAUGHTERS , FIVE GRAND KIDS AND THREE GREAT GRANDKIDS IN BRISBANE, WE CELEBRATED OUR 60TH WEDDING ANNIV. LAST JANUARY.---WE ARE FLYING DOWN TO BRISBANE NEXT MONDAY FOR A TEN DAY EASTER BREAK.--- NOW BACK TO THE REAL REASON FOR THIS EMAIL.--- THE WAR IN BURMA MOVED QUICKLY AFTER KOHIMA, THE ENEMY WERE IN FULL FLIGHT AND WE WERE HOT ON THEIR HEELS, 2ND DIV. WAS READY TO ATTACK MANDALAY AND 2 RECCE HAD THE JOB OF TAKING UP POSITIONS ON THE BANKS OF THE IRRAWADDY RIVER JUST NORTH OF MANDALAY TO MAKE THE ENEMY THINK THAT WAS THE MAIN CROSSING POINT, MY TROOP`S JOB WAS TO OCCUPY A HILL OVERLOOKING THE RIVER.---THE ENEMY TOOK THE BAIT AND STARTED TO BUILD UP QUITE A LARGE FORCE ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD NOT BE LONG BEFORE HE WOULD SEND OVER RECCE PATROLS.---ONE NIGHT MY BREN GUNNERS SUDDENLY OPENED FIRE AND THERE WAS THE SOUND OF HAND GRENADES GOING OFF, THE WIRELESS OPERATOR REPORTED TO H.Q. THAT WE WERE BEING ATTACKED, THEN ALL WAS SILENT, WE STOOD TO TILL DAYLIGHT AND I SENT FORWARD A SMALL PATROL TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY DEAD OR WOUNDED JAPS OUT IN FRONT, THEY CAME BACK TO REPORT, GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR, THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO WILD DOGS AND SIX PUPS LYING DEAD, THE GUNNERS HAD HEARD A RUSTLING NOISE OUT IN THE JUNGLE WHICH CAME CLOSER AND CLOSER SO THINKING IT WAS THE ENEMY, THEY OPENED FIRE, THROWING A COUPLE OF GRENADES FOR GOOD MEAASURE, RED FACED I HAD TO REPORT BACK TO H.Q. THE TRUE SITUATION, IT TOOK US SOME TIME TO GET OVER THE RIBBING AND CRIES OF “ PUPPY KILLERS” FROM THE OTHER TROOPS.---2 DIV. GOT ACROSS AT ANOTHER SPOT AND QUICKLY CAPTURED MANDALAY AFTER SOME FIERCE FIGHTING FOR THE TUNNELS OF FORT DUFFERIN, FLAME THROWERS HAD TO BE USED TO WINKLE THEM OUT---AFTER MANDALAY IT WAS JUST A ROUT, THE ENEMY WERE RETREANING EVERYWHERE AND WERE LOSING MEN BY THE THOUSANDS.---AFTER CHASING THEM FOR SO LONNG WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO FINISHING THE JOB AND BEING IN AT THE KILL, THE CRY FROM THE 14TH. ARMY WAS—“RANNGOON BEFORE THE MONSOON OR BUST,” IT WAS BUST, FATE HAD OTHER IDEAS, WE WERE BROUGHT TO A HALT BY AN EARLY MONSOON AND FURTHER MOVEMENT SOUTH WAS IMPOSSIBLE, AFTER COMING SO FAR WE WERE BEATEN BY THE WEATHER, NOT THE ENEMY, WE WERE VERY DISSAPOINTED.---RANGOON WAS CAPTURED FROM THE SEA BY OTHER FORCES.---2 DIV. WAS FLOWN BACK TO INDIA TO REBUILD AND TRAIN FOR OTHER OPERATIONS, BUT ALONG CAME THE BOMB AND THE WAR WAS OVER.---WE HAD TO WAIT FOR SIX MONTHS BEFORE WE GOT BAK TO THE U.K., AS SHIPPING WAS NEEDED TO TAKE HOME BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR FREED FROM THE JAPANESE CAMPS, WE DID`NT MIND; THEIR NEED WAS GREATER THAN OURS, AFTER SIX YEARS OF WAR WE WERE GLAD TO BE ALIVE.---NOW TO FRANCE.---AS I MENTIONED BEFORE I WAS MOVED FROM THE CAMERONS TO THE NEWLY FORMED A \ TANK REGT, WE STILL KEPT OUR CAP BADGE AND KILT, THIS MOVE PROBABLY SAVED MY LIFE AS LATER ON AT THE BATTLE OF LA BASSEE, THE PLATOON I HAD ORIGINALY BEEN IN WERE NEARLY ALL KILLED OR WOUNDED, INCLUDING MY TWO BEST FRIENDS WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.---AFTER MOVING INTO BELGIUM WE HAD A FEW SKIRMISHES BUT THE REAL STOUSH WAS AT LA BASSEE, 2 DIV. WERE DECIMATED HOLDING BACK ROMMEL`S TWO PANZER DIVS.-- 5TH. BRIGADES ROLE IN THIS WAS TO DEFEND THE CAMERONS, WE KNOCKED OUT 21 OF ROMMEL`S TANKS BEFORE WE WERE OVER RUN AND SURROUNDED BY OTHER TANKS, WE COULD NOT MOVE OUR GUNS AS OUR VEHICLES HAD BEEN SHOT UP BY AIRCRAFT, WE REMOVED THE BREACH BLOCK AND THREW IT INTO A DEEP DITCH FULL OF DIRTY WATER TO IMMOBILISE THE GUN. WE HID IN THE SAME DITCH AND LET THE TANKS RUMBLE PAST ABOVE US, WE WERE OUT OF THEIR LINE OF VISION AND LUCKY FOR US THERE WERE NO GERMAN INFANTRY CLOSE BY OR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CAPTURED ( OR WORSE) FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WE HID IN WOODS AND LONG GRASS AND AFTER A FEW SCARY EVENTS WE CONTACTED OUR OWN TROOPS.---FOR THIS ACTION OUR PLATOON COMMANDER WAS AWARDED THE M.C.---FOR CONFIRMATION OF THIS ---GOOGLE—DONALD CALLENDAR M.C.---AFTER LA BASSEE 2DIV. WAS NO LONGER AN EFFECTIVE FIGHTING FORCE AND THE REMNANTS WERE ORDERED TO GET BACK TO DUNKIRK, THIS WAS NO EASY TASK AS THE ROADS WERE CROWDED WITH TROOPS, TRUCKS, AND THOUSANDS 0F REFUGEES ON VEHICLES, HORSE DRAWN CARTS, BIKES, HAND CARTS ETC, EVERY NOW AND THEN THEY WOULD BE SHOT UP AND BOMBED BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT AND THE CONVOYS WOULD SCATTER LEAVING DEAD AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS, MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN LYING AROUND, SOMEONE WOULD SEE TO THE CASAULTIES THEN REFORM AND MOVE ON AGAIN, WE FELT SORRY FOR THE CIVILIANS, AS SOLDIERS WE WERE TRAINED TO EXPECT SUCH THINGS, BUT THEY WERE TERRIFED, WE HELPED THEM AS MUCH AS WE COULD, BUT OUR ORDERS WERE TO GET TO DUNKIRK.---EVENTUALLY THE ROADS BECAME SO CONGESTED THAT NO FURTHER MOVEMENT WAS POSSIBLE ALL, TROOPS STILL ON VEHICLES WERE TO PROCEDE ON FOOT AND DESTROY THEM, THE NEARER WE GOT TO DUNKIRK HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF TRUCKS AND OTHER MILITARY EQUIPMENT WERE LYING BURNT OUT BY THE ROADSIDE AND A HUGE BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE TOWN AND OIL TANKS BLOCKED OUT THE SUN ---WHEN WE REACHED THE TOWN IT WAS IN RUINS AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF CIVILIANS, BUT THE BEACH WAS CROWDED WITH THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS SPREAD OUT IN A VERY LONG ORDERLY LINE ABOUT TEN OR MORE DEEP, FROM THIS LINE RAN MANY SMALLER LINES LEADING DOWN TO WATER`S EDGE AND SMALL BOATS OF ALL KINDS LOADING AS MANY MEN AS THEY COULD HANDLE AND FERRYING THEM OUT TO LARGER SHIPS ANCHOURED IN DEEPER WATERS.---THE SHIPS AND THE BEACH WERE BEING CONSTANTLY DIVE BOMBED AND SHELLED, SUNKEN SHIPS WERE EVERYWHERE, AND BODIES FLOATING IN THE WATER, WE JOINED THE END OF THE LINE AND AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WAS MY TURN TO CLIMB ON BOARD AND BE FERRIED OUT TO A LARGER CRAFT, I WAS NO SOONER ON BOARD THE LARGER VESSEL WHEN IT WAS BOMBED AND I WAS IN THE WATER, MY KILT WAS HEAVY AND WAS DRAGGING ME DOWN AND THE BUCKLES WERE HARD TO REACH AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEP MYSELF AFLOAT, LUCKILY A DESTROYER, H.M.S. WHITEHALL WAS NEARBY AND HAULED ME ON BOARD, ALONG WITH OTHERS, AND IT TOO WAS UNDER FIRE FROM AIRCRAFT, EVENTUALY WE SAILED OFF AND ARRIVED SAFELY IN THE U.K, A BIT BEDRAGGLED, BUT STILL IN ONE PIECE.---THE ORGANISATION OF THE EVACUATION WAS TERRIFIC; EVERYTHING WAS CONROLLED BY MARSHALS AND THERE WAS NO PANIC, WHEN THE BEACH WAS SHELLED OR BOMBED THE LINES WOULD SCATTER AND EVERYONE WOULD HEAD FOR THE NEAREST SHELL HOLE, WHEN THE FIRING STOPPED THE LINES WOULD REFORM AND LOADING WOULD CARRY ON---TO LIFT OVER 350,00O MEN AMID ALL THAT CHAOS WAS A MARVELOUS PIECE OF ORGANISATION---I`LL SEND OFF THIS EMAIL NOW AND LOOK FOR A FEW PHOTOS TO SEND NEXT EMAIL, I`LL TRY AND GET IT OFF BEFOE I LEAVE FOR BRISBANE TOMORROW MORNING, IF NOT IT WILL BE OVER A WEEK BEFORE YOU HEAR FROM ME AGAIN.---CHEERS, ERNIE.
     
  6. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Sunday, 17 April 2011 7:55:59 PM

    HI PAUL,
    THE GROUP PHOTO IS PART OF THE OCT. 1939 TRAINING INTAKE AT CAMERON BARACKS INVERNESS, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DISPLAY IT ON YOUR WEBSITE, MAYBE SOMEONE OUT THERE WILL RECOGNISE A RELATIVE, I KNOW I`TS A LONG SHOT; BUT THE AGE OF MIRACLES HAS NOT YET PASSED; I` CAN`T PUT NAMES TO THEM, WHEN WE JOINED THE CAMERONS IN FRANCE WE WERE SPLIT UP AND SENT TO DIFFERENT COYS. AND LOST TOUCH, THE THREE IN KILTS WERE TRAINING N.C.O.S.--- THE 2 DIV. MEMORIAL AT KOHIMA I PAINTED, AND I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIIKE TO SEE A SKETCH I DID OF A 2 RECCE GUARD ROOM SOMEWHERE IN INDA.---THAT`S ME IN THE KILT I WORE IN FRANCE ( AND COULD`NT GET RID OF IN THE SEA ).---THE OTHER PHOTO OF ME N “ SARTORIAL SPLENDOUR” IN MY RECCE WALKING OUT DRESS. TAKEN IN A STUDIO IN DARJEELING IN THE HIMALAYAS, VERY STIFF LOOKING, BUT YOU KNW WHAT STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE LIKE, I DID`NT EVEN SMOKE, HE MADE ME HOLD THE PIPE, SAID IT MADE ME LOOK MORE “ MANNISH “ I RESERVE JUDGEMENT.---MY BROTHER SERVED WITH THE 8TH.ARMY IN AFRICA AND ITALY IN 51ST DIV. RECCE REGT. AND LANDED IN FRANCE ON D DAY.-- BY A STRANGE COINCIDENCE TWO OF HIS BEST MATES WERE TRANSFERED FROM HIS TROOP TO MINE IN BURMA.---I THINK THAT FINISHES MY STORY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DON’T HESITATE TO ASK, KEEP IN TOUCH, ERNIE.
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    Outstanding!

    Paul, please pass on to Ernie my appreciation
    and thanks for these memoirs and to yourself
    for posting them up.
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Most excellent , cheers.
     
  9. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Paul
    Lovely story-thanks for posting

    Lesley
     
  10. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Excellent story. Thanks to Ernie and Mich.
     
  11. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    please pass on thanks
    excellent
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  13. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    16/05/2011

    hi paul,---thanks for posting my memoirs, i don`t think i can add to what i have already given, one day in active service is just like another, yesterdays skirmish was the same as today`s, and to repeat them would be boring and sound a bit boastfull, we just tried to survive from day to day.---i think a troop commander is the worst job in active service, you are prsonaly involved with every man in the troop, it`s like a big family ,you know their names and some of their family life, you know their weeknesses and strengthes, when you lose some it`s personal, you have to be a father figure and set an eample at all times or you get no respect and discipline crumbles, the majority of men get on with the job but there are always a ouuple of know alls in every troop, they have to be kept in check or once again discipline falls by the wayside, you have to be the boss., firm but fair, at the end of each day you you have to see that they are settled down as well as conditions allow and make sure they get food and drink, you have corporals to help you of course, but the main responsibility is yours, when in defence you have to deploy them and set up gun positions, in attack to control them, see that the wounded get attention, and some times to bury the dead, you are last to ger to sleep and first up, the wellfare of your troop comes first, yourselfe last---i` have remembered another task my troop had to do, we had to cross a river into enemy territory and set uup a night ambush, when we reached the river it was very muddy and we had no idea how deep it was and there was also the odd crocodile to wotrry about, luckily there was a native nearby with a small dugout canoe who took us over two or three at a time, we gave him some cigarettes for his trouble and he said he would pick us up on the way back.----the ambush area was a narrow track going through the jungle about a mile from the river, running east to west, the intelligence infor mation i had was that the enemy was wtihdrawing from west to east so i set up our positions accordingly postinng only a lookout at the easern end, the plan was to let as many of the enemy as possible into the trap before we opened fire.----by this time it was very dark and we settled down to await results.----it was not long before there was a warning cry from from the lookout at the estern end of the track and the enemy were in front of us, they were reiforcing and not withdrawing and entered our trap from the other end, however we were under cover and they were in the open, we opened fire and all hell broke loose yelling and screaming and guns firing, two japs appeared out of the darkness in front of me, i opened fire, my gun fired one or two shots and then jammed so i dropped for cover behind a tree, then all went quiet, the enemy had fled into the jungle leaving some dead, because of the dark we had no idea how strong a force they were , they might gather themselves together and counter attack, we had no casualties, the enemy had no time to fire or fired blindly, we collectd a couple of packs and some weapons they had left behind, when we reached the river no native or dugout to be seen, he probably heard the firing and fled, crocs or no crocs we would have to ford the river or be caught by the enemy.----we picked what looked like the shallowest part and started to wade through the muddy water, lucky again, it was only waist deep and no crocs-----we reached h.q. O.k. And the two enemy packs yielded some good information, a satifactory result for what could have been a fiasco..----i think i have reached the end of memory lane, if i remember something else i`ll send it on.----cheers --ernie.
     
  14. jawan

    jawan Old Hand

    Many thanks indeed Ernie (and Paul) for bringing us this very special story ... so little has been written about 2 Recce who fought so hard and endured so much. Can Ernie remember his Army number? Does he recall any of the following members of 2 Recce: Cpl L Critchley, Cpl W Harris, WO2 W Moss, Tpr B White or Lt E (Teddy) Raines ???
     
  15. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Tuesday, 17 May 2011


    HI PAUL,----I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE I WAS PICKED UP, I THINK IT WAS OFF THE BEACH NEAR THE WEST MOLE , THEN BY THE H.M.S. WHITEHALL.----DREW 5233 IS CORRECT WHEN HE SAID THAT LT.CALLENDER WAS IN 5TH. A /T .BDE, AS WAS HIS PLATOON, I THINK WHERE SOME OF THE CONFUSION ARISES IS THAT LT. CALLENDER AND HIS PLATOON ALL CAME FROM THE 1ST. CAMERONS, WE STILL KEPT THE KILT AND CAMERON CAP BADGE.--- SOME WEBSITES ALSO MIX UP THE A /T. GUN WE HAD WITH THE BRITISH 2.PDR.; IT WAS THE FRENCH HOTCHKISS 25 M.M. ---- I SEE IN PAGE 2 OF THE FORUM THAT A MEMBER “JAWAN” WOULD LIKE TO TO KNOW MY ARMY NO, THAT’S ONE THING I`LL NEVER FORGET, IT`S A CAMERON NO. 2932444.----I`M AFRAID I DON`T RECALL ANY OF THE NAMES HE MENTIONED, MAYBE THEY WERE IN OTHER SQDNS----THANKS TO ALL FOR THEIR KIND REMARKS RE MY MEMOIRS.----CHEERS, ---ERNIE.
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Many thanks Ernie-I'll try and post some evacuation details on HMS Whitehall later. Hopefully I should be able to tell you the date you came home.

    Regards
    Andy
     
  17. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    Hallo Ernie - a long shot, but do you have any
    memory of Trooper Robert (Bob) Miller, he may
    even have gone by Alex Miller I guess. He was
    an ex-Loyals chap, possibly despatch rider and
    a definate cockney

    And I'd love to hear any other memories of your
    time in India, was there any/much fraternisation?

    Also anything regarding 2Recce's first contact -
    Is it true that you were all told that the Japs were
    short illiterate mountain dwellers and yet the first
    Japs encountered were 6ft tall Imperial Guardsmen?

    Many thanks for sharing your memories, Ernie, they're
    very much appreciated - and you Paul of course!
     
  18. cameronlad

    cameronlad Member

    Me too, Ernie. Fascinating story throughout. After reading everything I fired off a private message to Paul (and yourself) last night in the hope you can elaborate more on anything... everything... to do with the actions around Violaines and La Bassee. Contemporary accounts by historians and even war diaries seem to vary so much at times or even skimp over details. Which is why suddenly your personal memoires have raised the bar - and put a very human approach to what did happen there.
    I'm off to tread the fields around the area soon, so your memories would serve almost as a personal guide at every step, since my father is no longer alive to do it with me. Look forward to more, please. Garry.
     
  19. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Outstanding!

    Paul, please pass on to Ernie my appreciation
    and thanks for these memoirs and to yourself
    for posting them up.

    I would like to second this quote.

    A fantastic read.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  20. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    20/05/2011


    hi paul,----i seemed to have stirred up a bit of conroversy re lt. Callander.---the a/t regt. Was hastily formed, short lived, and has not much of a history.---i`m afraid i`m going to dssapoint some of the forum meembers by not being able to answer some of their questions, going back 70 years is a long time, some episodes stand out; most fade away.---re quistions from garry,---- the platoon`s guns were spread out across the camerons right flank to give them some protection from the tanks, the guns were not side by side but some distance apart, there were several farms in the area which cut off our view of the other two guns, we were not told which coys. We were guarding, in the early days of the war the ordinary soldier was not told much about what was happening, later on in burma, before a big battle even field maarshall slim would tour every regt. And tell them what he was going to do. And what he wanted them to do; this way he got the best out of his men.--- back to la bassee----after lt. Caalleder set up our position he moved on to position the other two guns, not long after he left the shelling, stukas and machine guns opened up, the camerons were copping it too as well as the area of our other two guns, then the tanks attacked, dozens of them, we just kept firi ng and knocking them out but there were too many of them and we were soon overun and surrounded, under these conditions you have no idea what`s going on anywhere else you are engaged in your own little war and trying to survive.---it was later when we managed to escape and caught up with remnants of other regts. That the magnitude of the debacle set in, i often wonder how the “higher ups” manage to sort out the chaos of battle.---sorry garry, i could`nt help you in any way with your research. -----replying to at home dad ---things went on fairly quietly in india, the odd riot, hard training etc. We were stationed at poona which has a good climate being on a plateau, we could go into town and have a restaurant meal and a swim in the local river, we were allowed to have what we called a “ safari suit” tailor made, for “walking out, there was no rule against fraternising, but it was not encouraged, the local men wold frown on their women mixing with us, so we respected their wishes and kept to ourselves. I don`t recall being told much about the japanese soldier, it was understood that he was a stubborn fighter who very rarely surrendered and if he did to watch out in case he was concealing a hand grenade, the majority of them were short in stature, the imperial guard were the exception, we did`nt find them any better fighters than the othrs,---most of the japanese wore boots with a cleft toe, usually a sign that they lived in the country, and wore thongs all of the time.---i don`t remember a bob miller, as a matter of fact i can only remember about ten names from those far off .days.------i think i`ve answered every question as well as i can,----cheers, ---ernie
     

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