Three stories from: William Henry Elder, Margaret Annie Harrison, Bognor Advanced Landing Ground

STORY 1: My father, William Henry Elder, was called up in 1944, after completing his apprenticeship. His 21st birthday was spent on a ship sailing to the Far East. His story of the war is set out on Object 1 (memory stick).

STORY 2: My mother, Margaret Annie Harrison, worked as a munitions worker at a factory in Salford during WW2. Details are set out on Object 1 (memory stick).

STORY 3: Bognor Advanced Landing Ground: During WW2 an Advanced Landing Ground was constructed adjoining the building at West Meads, Bognor Regis, where we are currently carrying out this interview, and including the place where the contributor currently lives. Details of the extent and location are set out in images.

World War II Memories - as recounted by their children and grandchildren.

William Henry Elder 07/01/1924 to 14/01/1978
William Henry (Bill) was born and raised in Newcastle Upon Tyne. He was serving an apprenticeship as a Heating Engineer in the early years of the war, and we believe his apprenticeship was shortened to allow conscription into the armed forces.

Bill, after initial training, was posted to the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, serving in India and Burma. He spent Christmas 1944, New Year 1945, and his 21st birthday on board the ship to India. Images included.

Bill, in uniform with his father, Robert William Elder, a veteran of World War I. We believe this was taken shortly before embarkation to the Pacific theatre of war.

Bill with two friends in India / Burma, after his promotion to Lance Corporal. We believe the picture was taken after Bill's transfer to the Corps of Military Police. The central character in the photo was a member of the Ghurkha Regiment, who had saved Bill's life, which ensured they became the best of friends.

On return to the UK, Bill resumed his trade and was involved in the construction of some major factories / engineering projects during his life; these included the new nuclear factory at Sellafield (which has grown to become the Windscale nuclear plant), the ICI chemical factory on Teesside, car manufacturing facilities in Coventry, and the natural gas delivery and distribution system from the North Sea.

Anecdotes: Like many others, Bill did not speak much about his experience during the war. One such occasion involved him, as a Military Policeman, being asked to deliver something to the HQ building in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Burma. The Japanese soldiers had been informed that they must show respect to British officers. To help the soldiers identify who the officers were, they were told they would have red bands on their hats. On arrival at the camp, Bill with his Military Police 'red cap' entered the compound. The prisoners en masse knelt and bowed their heads to the floor, which was something of a surprise to Bill, but he continued with his errand. Whilst indoors, the prisoners were informed that the 'red cap' was a Military Policeman. In the Japanese Imperial Army system, the Military Police were called kempeitai, and functioned much like the German Gestapo but with a broader remit to police the military personnel too. They were feared and hated by everyone, including the Japanese soldiers, for their violence and brutality. Bill, having completed his errand and exiting the building, was faced with ranks of prisoners jeering at him and chanting 'kempeitai'. Something of a contrast between arrival and departure.

Rations for the troops were not very good, so when an opportunity to get additional rations appeared, Bill volunteered; he was an amateur boxer and gave exhibition boxing matches for Japanese officers in the POW camp. Sadly, the additional rations never materialised.

At the end of the war (VJ Day), Dad was informed he would be going to Japan, but on embarkation, the orders changed, and he was returned to the UK. Whilst sailing up the English Channel, he said there was an enormous number of 'kit bags' thrown overboard, the troops wanting to get back to 'civvy street' asap.

Bill returned from the Far East with:
- A hatred of rice/curry. As children in the 1960s, we wanted to try the 'new' and 'exotic' dishes in the shops, such as Vesta Curry. However, this was not allowed if Dad was at home and was reserved for when he was working away. This was a legacy of the poor rations in the Far East and the need to 'eat local food' to supplement the meagre fare.
- A hatred of all things Japanese, probably understandable given his experience in Burma.
- A lifelong smoking habit, having had a daily 'cigarette ration' issued to him whilst on active service.
- A wish to cover almost every food dish with salt, having got the taste for salt tablets, again issued daily whilst on active service in the Far East. The latter two were major contributors to his sudden and early demise, aged 54.

Margaret Annie Harrison 20/05/1924 to 30/11/2006
Margaret Annie (Nan) was born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, and raised in a small mining community (Clifton) a few miles away. On leaving school, Nan went into domestic service at a big house near Kirkby Lonsdale. During the war, with the availability of war work, she left this employment and went to a munitions factory in Salford, near Manchester.

Anecdote: As was the norm at this time, Nan's sister Jean became 'pen pals' with men in the military, who were away from home and loved ones, William Henry (Bill) Elder being one. At the end of the war, Bill went to meet Jean, but she had no interest in befriending him. Nan, feeling sorry for him, invited him to join her and her girlfriends on a night out. Romance blossomed, and they married on 23/04/1949, had six children (including two sets of twins), and stayed devoted to each other until Bill's death in 1978.