Thread: Preparations for D.Day

Keith, I know what you mean having experienced the same thing when I left my fire brigade in 2004. You just miss that sense of belonging and utter happiness.

I've often thought along these lines when reading aircrew memoirs. After years of potentially serving with the same guys in adverse conditions, they gradually disperse to thier respective homes and/or countries. It must have been hard bieng happy about going home but regretting having to part company with those who you shared so much with.

[QUOTE=Keith;22263]Leading up to D.Day most Naval personel were shipped to the south coast.
Hi All,
Looking through some personal items for Kyt, I found this picture of some of the lads involved, yours truly with the "X" on my cap

[QUOTE=Keith;24630]

Originally Posted by Keith

Leading up to D.Day most Naval personel were shipped to the south coast.
Hi All,
Looking through some peronal items for Kyt, I found this picture of some of the lads involved, yours truly with the "X" on my cap

You look so boyish there Keith !!

This quote was from an Australian airman .... !! I suppose it's the same feeling for most people !

The spirit of comradeship on an operational squadron is an example of the high regard that men can develop for each other, even though we had little or no knowledge of what our comrades did before they joined. What any man did in his past life was of no concern to any of us, what mattered at that time, was how well they performed as a crew or squadron member. I deliberately refer to it as a spirit because there are no other words that would explain what takes place when new members were added to the squadron. When I joined “550 squadron”, “5 Group Bomber Command”, there was a sense of belonging, a feeling that came from within and gradually made me feel a part of a whole, a huge kindred and it happened without my realising it; I just fitted in.

[QUOTE=liverpool annie;24637]

Originally Posted by Keith

You look so boyish there Keith !!

This quote was from an Australian airman .... !! I suppose it's the same feeling for most people !

Hi Annie,
You obviously have the scouse gift for flattery.
As an ex member of the Aighburth Road Drill Hall, a gunner based in Manchester I am well versed in the ways of the locals!
Yes I do look boyish, what do you expect at nearly 14.
Thank goodness I dont look girlish like some of a later generation.
Have a lovely Christmas.
Cheers, boyishly,
Keith
Here I am at a later date trying to get the Queens shilling accepted.
PS. by the way flattery will get you everywhere!

Great photos Keith.

Now, how is it that a sailor boy ended up in the army? Sea sickness?

And as a naval cadet (is that the right term?) during the war what did you do?

Originally Posted by Kyt

Great photos Keith.

Now, how is it that a sailor boy ended up in the army? Sea sickness?

And as a naval cadet (is that the right term?) during the war what did you do?

Hi Kyt,
Glad you picked up on the photograph, I was going to post it to you direct in case you missed it!!!!
I should have known better!
The war ended in late 1945, I was then to young too have seen any war service apart from filling in for quard duty as mentioned.
After the war I returned to London and through my school became a member of the Army Cadet Force, wearing the badge of The Princess Marie Louise's Kensington Rifles.
I am still looking for some more snaps of my later stint of National Service up to my retirement in 1986 from the TA, after which I took over as an Area Commander in the Cheshire Army Cadet Force, for a couple of years before mothballing my uniforms.
Cheers
Keith

It's an incredible history, Keith. I think I speak for everyone here when I say thank you for your service.

And for sharing your photos. I look forward to seeing more when you get a chance. Did you get to see the world? Exotic places?

Yes ! I agree with K .... thank you Keith !

Funnily enough I was reading about the Lancashire TA yesterday and feeling very proud of being a Lanky !! ( of course you were in Cheshire .... and thats a bit different !! )

Did you know that the Territorial Army Barracks on Aigburth Road in Liverpool was renamed The Brigadier Phillip Toosey Barracks ?? .... he was quite a man too !!

Philip Toosey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Annie