LIFE IN THE ARMY - Chapter 8 – Ashford in Kent
By Actiondesk Sheffield
People in story: ARTHUR WARD, Al White, Major Jarvis,Sgt J Stewart, Bdr Don
Gregson, Gnr Fordinskey, Gnr Rider , T Morgan
Location of story: Ashford, Kent, Broadstairs, Mersham, Swallownest, Sheffield,
Seaford
Unit name: 'C' Troop 279 Battery
Background to story: Army
This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk –
Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Arthur Ward and has been added to the site with his
permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
LIFE IN THE ARMY
by
ARTHUR WARD
Chapter 8 – Ashford in Kent
November 15, 1941
Petrol arrived at 0830 hrs and we carried on to Ashford (Kent).
New address: New House
Mersham
Nr Ashford
Kent
November 16, 1941
Here we were billeted in Nissen Huts complete with electric, light, coal stoves and spring
beds. All this was new to us and a real luxury. Nearby was a good NAAFI canteen. There
was a ½ hour bus service to Ashford which was 3 ½ miles away.
This was a very good camp and much better than the usual billets.
November 18, 1941
Lecture on Current Affairs "War in the Far East".
November 19, 1941
We visited Ashford swimming baths. At this camp Al White and myself found a flat piece of
ground on which we marked out lines in sawdust for a football pitch and we fixed goal
posts from long straight pine trees about 4" thick. I had a snapshot taken under these
posts with AI White.
We had several trips to Ashford where I always remembered that an old World War 1 tank
stood in a square and was used as a war memorial.
November 23, 1941
Reveille 0530. Moved off at 0745 via Folkstone, Dover, Walmer, Deal, Sandwich, then to
Broadstairs. We took up gun positions near the front.
November 25, 1941
Went to the baths at the Naval Base, Ramsgate.
November 26, 1941
Went to Cinema House and saw Bette Davis in " The Letter".
November 27, 1941
Left Broadstairs at short notice on same route back to Mersham.
We learned later that we had been at Broadstairs to guard a Radar Station as it was
expected that the Germans were planning to invade and put it out of action. Unconfirmed
reports said that they had tried at the time we were there, but were turned back by the
Navy. It was just as well as the organisation was utter chaos. In fact we were nearly all
allowed out in the pubs, which did not help the cause at all.
I sent a card for mother’s birthday on 1/12/41.
November 30, 1941
Church Parade at Smeeth Church.
December 06, 1941
Folkestone Military Barracks - 70th Field Regt 2 Durham Light Infantry 1. I played in goal.
December 08, 1941
Concert at Hatch Park (449 Bty Camp) Classical Music and songs by broadcasting artists
from London. Not our type of music - too highbrow for us.
December 10, 1941
Ran in cross country run for the Battery. I came 2nd out of 80 runners.
December 11, 1941
3 days manoeuvres near Canterbury.
December 12, 1941
Completed 2 years service in the army.
December 14, 1941
Played at Leeming. 70th Field Regt 0 46 Div Rece corps 4.
December 16, 1941
24 Hours Guard.
December 18, 1941
Issued with new type Oak tree (46th Division) which we sewed on our tunics.
December 19, 1941
Went to Lydd into a gas compound. Had mustard gas put on our arm then treated with
ointment. Then through a gas chamber with Chlorine gas but our gas masks and capes
protected us OK.
December 20, 1941
Social and dance in canteen approximately 60 men and 5 girls - did not enjoy the night!
December 21, 1941
Church Parade at Mersham Church.
December 24, 1941
70th Field Regt 2 v 271 Field Corps R.E 4.
December 25, 1941
Reveille 0800 hrs.
Coffee and rum brought to us in bed by Sgts. Comic football match. Had a very good Xmas
dinner, speeches by the Colonel and Major Jarvis. Also had a good tea. A good day and a
great change from the usual routine.
December 26, 1941
Reveille 0730. Parade 1000. Route march, we marched 6 miles in Battle Order (all
equipment). Afterwards had a free film show at the Odeon called "Melody and Moonlight"
and the original Mother Riley.
December 27, 1941
Prepared guns for inspection but cancelled due to rain.
December 28, 1941
70th Field Regt 2 v 171 Field Coy R.E 3.
December 31, 1941
Played football at Smeeth lost 1-0 with 277 Battery. On guard at 1800 hrs.
1942
January 01, 1942
New years day. Saw 46th Division concert party at Hatch Hall - Good.
On guard until 1800 hrs (24 hours).
January 02, 1942
Physical Training then to Ashford and saw "Big American Broadcast".
January 03, 1942
Inspection of vehicles. Played football at Folkestone 70th Field Regt. 1 2/5
Foresters 4.
I heard that my brother Eric had been called up into the Navy on 01/01/42.
Address: E Ward 0/Tel WM
HMS Prince Arthur
Skegness, Lincs. (Butlin’s Camp).
My address is now: Gnr Ward A 954330
'C' Troop 279 Battery
70th Field Regt. RA
Sellindge, Ashford, Kent.
We were actually stationed at Mersham, which is a small village 3 miles from Ashford
(Kent), 15 miles from Dover, 12 miles from Folkestone, 52 miles from London and 210
miles from Sheffield.
January 04, 1942
Church Parade at Smeeth.
January 10, 1942
Moved off at 1030 via Hythe, Rye, Eastbourne where we arrived at 1615 hrs. We were
billeted in a large boarding house on a hill in the centre of a long row of houses.
We organised ourselves then went to the YMCA canteen.
January 11, 1942
Maintenance then ½ day off, so we walked into town on the sea in front. On the beach
were many rolls of barbed wire, which was supposed to stop an invasion. We went to The
Picturedrome and saw Conrad Veidt and Jean Crawford in "A Woman's Face".
January 12, 1942
Took up a gun position near Sleaford and practised firing a barrage.
'C' Subsection. 'C' Troop. 279 Battery.
Now is:
No. 1 Sgt J Stewart.
No. 2 Gnr A Ward - Limber Gunner (responsible for maintenance and cleanliness of gun)
No. 3 Bdr Don Gregson - Gun Layer
No. 4 Gnr Fordinskey - Ammunition Nos
No. 5 Gnr Rider
No. 6 T Morgan.
January 13, 1942
Practising firing ranging rounds in a snow storm.
January 14, 1942
Arrangements made for the regiment to fire a barrage to be watched by King George VI
and the army Commander in Chief and many 'brass hats' but it had to be cancelled due to
heavy snow.
January 15, 1942
Reveille 0545. Moved at 0930 in a blizzard. The roads were very bad with the ice and
snow. We arrived back at 1415 hrs. I now had a very bad cold.
January 16, 1942
Pay Parade then to Ashford for "Slipper" baths.
January 17, 1942
Inspection of guns by acting Battery Commander, Captain Haslam.
I was on guard at 1700 hrs.
January 18, 1942
Church Parade at Smeeth.
January 22, 1942
Went to ENSA concert party at Hatch Hall which was very good.
January 23, 1942
Pay Parade then lecture by troop commander Captain J Green.
January 25, 1942
Church Parade at Smeeth.
Pay parade was at 1330 prior to 7 days leave. We boarded a truck at 1515 to Ashford, and
a train which left at 1605. Changed at Maidstone on to an electric train to London Victoria.
Boarded underground to Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Kings Cross to
St Pancras. We went to a Salvation Army canteen.
Our next train left at 2115 and arrived in Sheffield at 0155. We went to YMCA canteen.
January 26, 1942
I caught the first bus and arrived home at 0510 hrs. After breakfast and a bath, I went to
bed for a few hours. My mother and dad were still living at 114 Worksop Road,
Swallownest, Sheffield.
Later I went to the Sheffield Hippodrome and saw Robert Taylor in "Billy the Kid" which
was quite good.
We had more snow.
January 27, 1942
Went to the Sheffield Regent and saw Leslie Howard in "49th Parallel".
January 30, 1942
Went with Keith Spencer to the Empire at Rotherham and saw Anton Walbrook in
"Dangerous Moonlight". At night went to a dance at Swallownest Church Hall with our Eva.
At 2015 I had a Telegram from Nessie to say that she was paying a visit.
January 31, 1942
Met Nessie on Sheffield station and brought her home at 1700 hrs.
She stayed overnight at our house for the first time.
February 01, 1942
More snow so we had to stay at home.
February 02, 1942
Left home at 1315 to the LMS Station, Sheffield and we both boarded a train, which left at
1435. At Derby we changed trains and Nessie went on to Birmingham and I carried on to
London arriving at 1930. On underground train to London Bridge. In the YMCA canteen
then train at 2122 to Ashford where we arrived at 2245. A truck took us back to Mersham
where we arrived at 2330 hrs.
February 03, 1942
Route march in Battle Order for 5 miles then I was on 24-hour guard at 1800 hrs.
February 05, 1942
Route march for 5 miles then man handled the guns into a field.
At this time I was very fit so I enjoyed the Route Marches and PT where I was very friendly
with the PTI (Physical Training Instructor). They were very often well known athletes or
sportsmen like footballers or cricketers, but I have forgotten the name or what our PTI did
for a living.
February 06, 1942
Route march for 7 miles.
February 07, 1942
Route march then preparing for a scheme at night. Went to the cinema house in Ashford
and saw Don Ameche in "Kiss the Boys Goodbye".
February 08, 1942
Reveille 0730 hrs. Moved off at 0945 and arrived in Eastbourne at 1530 hrs. We went to a
canteen.
February 09, 1942
Reveille 0530. Moved off at 0800 into a position near Rye where we fired 17 rounds. We
arrived back in billets in Eastbourne at 1630 hrs, then we carried out maintenance on the
guns.
The billets were still in the private houses, which were normally used as boarding houses
in peace time.
Most of the people had been evacuated.
February 10, 1942
Reveille 0630. We moved off at 1415. Maintenance until 1550 then I went on guard duties
at 1700 hrs.
February 11, 1942
I came off guard at 0715 hrs.
First we had gun drill then a route march for 5 miles.
Later we went to boxing championships at Thorncliffe Barracks, Folkstone.
70th Field Regt. were beaten easily by 2/5 Foresters. Bob Robinson (later posted to Middle
East and killed in action) lost his fight but Jack Jones 277 Bty won his Bout.
Jack Jones I had known at school in Swallownest but when aged about 16 he moved to
Halifax. His younger brother Eric stayed and I was friendly with him at Woodhouse
Grammar School (after the war he emigrated to Australia). In 1990 I met Jack again and
he said that he had remembered me as a footballer in the 70th and since the war he
helped organise the reunions, which I started attending in 1991 (re written 1996).
February 12, 1942
Gun drill, then a route march for 6 miles, then we had a lecture by an Indian Army Officer
called "India At War".
February 13, 1942
Route March then Pay Parade and visit to Ashford baths.
February 14, 1942
Inspection of guns, vehicles and billets by acting BC Captain Blaxland.
I played football for the Regiment. 70th Field Regt 3. The Leciesters 7.
I then went to the Odeon at Ashford and saw Claudette Colbert in "'Skylark" and Charlie
Chan in "Dead Men Tell".
February 15, 1942
Church Parade at Smeeth Church.
On guard at 1700 for 24 hours.
February 17, 1942
Gun drill then a lecture on first aid by Sgt. Roe.
February 18, 1942
Anti Tank gun drill at Hatch Park.
I played football for the Regt. 70th Field Regt. 3, 183 Ambulance RAMC 0.
Inoculated by MO ½cc TT. ½cc TAB and given 24 hours off duty.
February 20, 1942
Inspection by MO.
February 21, 1942
We gave a demonstration of firing guns watched by the South Staffords who are being
converted to artillery.
I played for the Regt. 70th Field Regt. 0. 183 Field Ambulance 1.
At night to the Odeon at Ashford.
February 23, 1942
Left Mersham at 1015 via Rye, Battle to Eastbourne. We carried out maintenance then
went to the Hippodrome and saw Mark Hoffman in "The 4 Stellas".
February 24, 1942
Into gun position near Seaford where we fixed camouflage nets.
February 25, 1942
We fired a barrage of 30 rounds HE then 9 rounds smoke shells for a smoke
screen. .
Our Subsection now is:
No. 1 Sgt J Stewart
No. 2 L/Bdr Baldwin (later killed in action)
No. 3 Gnr A Ward (layer)
No. 4 Gnr Ridler
No. 5 Gnr Morgan
February 26, 1942
Left Eastbourne at 1030 - arrived at Mersham 1445 (approximately 56 miles). Sgt. J
Stewart left the Regt. To be an instructor to a newly formed Regt.
February 28, 1942
Sent a telegram for Eva's birthday.
March 01, 1942
Eva's Birthday, now aged 19 years.
We had a lecture by the CO.
March 02, 1942
Winching out tree trunks, which had been erected, to prevent German planes landing.
Whilst in this area we were considered to be in 'The Front Line' as a possible German
invasion (if it came) was expected to be in this area.
March 04, 1942
Laying bricks to form a hard standing for the guns in heavy rain.
March 05, 1942
Bdr. Lindsey came as No. 1 to replace Sgt. Stewart
.
March 06, 1942
Battery Drill Order - went on manoeuvres. I acted as No. 1. L/Bdr Baldwin was our gun
layer. We were resting prior to setting out on these manoeuvres when the BC Major Jarvis
and several officers passed our subsection - I brought the subsection to attention and gave
him a salute. I think this may have helped because soon after I was awarded my first
stripe. We completed the manoeuvres and I was proud of the fact that as a lowly gunner I
had done a Sgt's job as No. 1.
March 07, 1942
We had a lift to Ashford in Captain Green's car which was called the "Yellow Peril". Went to
Odeon and saw Vic Oliver, Sarah Churchill and Evelyn Dahl in "He Found a Star".
March 08, 1942
Reveille 0630 left camp at 0845 to Smeeth station, left there at 1100 via Ashford, Redhill,
Reading, Guildford, West Lavington at 1600 and then in trucks to a camp at West Down
Tilshead.
March 09, 1942
Reveille 0615 marched to Antitank range at 0745. 'C' sub fired 27 rounds over open sights.
We fired the guns of 71st (Sheffield) Field Regt. 18/25 pounders. By now we were used to
the loud report and the recoil of the gun when they were fired using live ammunition.
March 10, 1942
Reveille 0630 Parade 0900. Long queue for breakfast as there were 2,000 men in the
camp. We cleaned our equipment then we had ½ day off duty so we went to the Garrison
Theatre and saw a revue called "Glad To Meet You" with Claude Hulbert and Enid Trevor.
March 11, 1942
Reveille 0630. Left the camp at 0830 and arrived at Mersham by train. Went on guard at
1830 for 24 hours.
March 13, 1942
We were "brushing up" on rifle drill for a special guard at Divisional HQ at Wye.
Later I visited Ashford Cinema House and saw "A Yank in the RAF".
March 16, 1942
We were to act as security police. We sat at a desk and checked all identity cards of people
visiting HQ and the Brigadier. It was an easy job and good food at meal times.
We also had to check the identity of the Brigadier, sometimes he was not very pleased
depending on what kind of mood he was in.
March 23, 1942
Our Regts. term of guard was completed so we handed the job over to 58th Anti Tank Regt
then returned to Mersham.
March 28, 1942
I was on a special guard whilst Colonel Thornton inspected the Regt. then an afternoon off
duty.
March 29, 1942
Played football for the Regt. 70th Field Regt 1. 2/5 Foresters 5
During the game I injured 2 fingers.
March 30, 1942
On guard for 12 hours.
March 31, 1942
Left Mersham with AI White at 1630 in a truck to Ashford. Caught train at 1655 to London
Bridge underground station, then to St Pancras. We visited a canteen just outside the
station.
Pr-BR