Bertram Harry Pierce

The following was written by Bertram Harry Pierce, the subject of this submission:

"In August 1942, at the age of 35, I was called up to join the Royal Air Force, having been evacuated to Wrexham in a reserved occupation as a general export factotum with New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Co. Ltd., now merged and submerged in Dalgety, London complex. Having earlier been interviewed at Chester when it was suggested that I might be useful as a Link Trainer Instructor: 'suggested' being the operative word such did not turn out to be the final objective.

I entrained from my home in Lee, South London, arrived with the travel warrant supplied and journeyed uneventfully to Recruit Receiving Depot, Penarth, S. Wales. On the train at one point a R.A.F. Corporal shared my compartment for a while and I told him what was on his only comment was "Your luck, mate" which cheered me immensely.

At Penarth station, with other hopefuls, R.A.F. S.P.s made us up into a party of twenty-odd bodies and we 'fell in' and marched to the receiving centre. There we were informed of the programme and designated to a private house billet where a meal was given to we new residents and instructed to report at the Centre at 8.30 next morning.

At the Centre, I was sworn in, received my shilling and then started on the procedure of getting in. Medical inspection, intelligence test, offer of air crew or ground duties, and general lecture on the service. Then to a kitting up parade where, fortunately, not being of an odd shape or height I received the full issue of underwear, uniform, boots, S/cap and great coat, plus gas mask, steel helmet and anti-gas clothing, webbing equipment and kitbag, 'irons' plates and my housewife, etc. What a load! Returned to billet with a large sheet of brown paper and string, supplied (for a small charge) by the kitting staff, with instructions to pack all civvy clothing into a neat parcel for posting to my home.

A parade was then called when we dressed for the first time in uniform and webbing for inspection so that exchanges of unsuitable equipment could be made. What a shower we looked in new kit which was stiff and had not settled to our various contours!

The next day we were called on parade and instructed how to correctly pack all our gear so that we should look like respectable airmen, so as to be ready to march to the station for an unknown destination for square bashing, otherwise recruit drill training.

Most chaps, like myself, had divested themselves of all personal gear, but one member insisted on retaining a stack of personal books and journals from which he would not be parted. These weighed heavy and filled his large backpack leaving much other service gear without a home on his person.

The Sergeant in charge passed scathing comments on us all and on him in particular. We were all weighed down with the unusual burden of full equipment and kitbag but this other poor chap definitely suffered and, of course, his boots did not fit! On the march we had to assist him with his load and incur the wrath of the sergeant who again enjoined him to "get rid of his load of trash as he would be too busy to read anything now."

The destination was Blackpool and on arrival in the late afternoon, we disembarked and were herded outside with another trainload from elsewhere and formed up in three sorry ranks. We looked in vain for trucks which might be taking us to H.Q. but no such favours were for us.

Depressed, tired, hungry and undisciplined we marched, or droopingly straggled, to the Receiving H.Q. where we were dispersed to various billets."