The 1940s Society For Everyone Interested in Wartime Britain Issue 80 July / August 2013 £3.00 Albert Bennett - War in the Far East We talk to a Burma Veteran Collecting Jaqmar Learn about these wartime propaganda scarves from author Mike Brown Vic Lewis by Jeff “Two-Tone Boogie” Diary Events And much more... The 1940’s Society, 90 Lennard Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2UX Tel: 01732 452505 Web: www.1940.co.uk Email: [email protected] 1 Full Steam Ahead The 1940s Society Having just returned from the annual trip to the Isle of Wight steam For Everyone Interested in Wartime Britain railway 1940s weekend it is hard not to be enthusiastic about the summer and the events we have ahead. Regular meetings at Otford Memorial Hall near Sevenoaks The weather was glorious, though, dare I say it, possibly a little too Friday 26th July 2013 - 8pm hot (I left off my waistcoat and simmered gently through the day in a smart woollen wartime business suit). As normal the turnout was excellent and some of the displays were truly spectacular with a Memories of the RAF and colossal amount of time, effort and expense being put into them. Displays included the building of street scenes, police stations and South East Asia Command encampments with detailed exhibits and information to hand. What A talk and presentation by Albert Bennett really shone through was the knowledge and enthusiasm that was apparent with those I spoke to. There are always things to learn Second World War and it is fantastic to talk to like minded people who have such a veteran Albert Bennett passion for history. In fact a discussion with one such group will lead, I hope, to their giving a talk to the society sometime in the will be giving an future – something I am looking forward to already. illustrated talk on his experiences with With the summer still ahead and many historical events coming up 155 Spitfire squadron in the next few months I encourage you to get along to some of in Asia. these shows. As well as being a great place to learn more about our history they also give an opportunity to meet like minded people As well as his UK and make new friends. Enjoy the weather while you’re out there postings Albert was and lets hope it lasts! stationed in India, Burma, Singapore Kind Regards and Sumatra. Ian Albert who is now 99 years old is a fascinating speaker and this Please support the Society with a subscription on-line at is a rare www.1940.co.uk or fill out and return the form on the back of this magazine. opportunity to hear a first hand account from someone who If you have any comments, articles or information of interest we would be pleased to consider it for future use. Please contact us at: The 1940’s Society, 90, Lennard Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2UX or email us at: [email protected] . experienced the bitter war in Asia. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part and in any form whatsoever, is strictly prohibited without the prior permission of the editor. Whilst every care is taken with material submitted to ‘The 1940s Society”, no responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the 1940s Society. Friendly meetings learning more about life in the 1940’s. Whilst every effort has been made to contact all copyright holders, the sources of some pictures that may be used are obscure. The Meetings start at 8pm at Otford Memorial Hall, Nr. Sevenoaks. publishers will be glad to make good in future editions any error or omissions brought to their attention. The publication of any quotes or illustrations on which clearance has not been given is unintentional. Admission £3. Further details from Ian on 01732 452505 or visit the Web Site at: www.1940.co.uk Designed and produced by Ian Bayley. © Ian Bayley 2013 2 3 Albert Bennett - War in the Far East Albert Bennett was with 155 Spitfire Squadron in Advertise Asia during the Second World War. He is 99 years old and we are delighted that he will be our speaker here at our society meeting in July. We met up with Albert to find out a little more about his background and experience. for as little Alberts father had joined the area going to school locally. army at the age of 15 and had His parents weren’t well off but as £20 been stationed both in Britain Albert won a scholarship to and India. When the First Rochester Technical College World War broke out he was and after 4 years there he left sent straight to France as one to become an apprentice at a of the ‘old contemptibles’ and local office machine company. was captured on the Somme Having taken night school where he was sent to Germany classes at book keeping he and then on to Russia as a worked first in the office but POW. His wartime experiences having a keen interest in the left him suffering from very engineering and the repair poor health for the rest of his side of the business he soon MEMBERS SPECIAL OFFER life. transferred out of the office where he completed his 5 Prompted by the photograph in Albert was born in Rochester year apprenticeship. During Issue 79 I was offered some in 1914 and grew up in the this time he often worked on copies of an excellent book by Tom Hickman, ‘Called Up, Sent Down - The Bevin Boys’ War’ at a price worth passing on. The RRP is £9.99 but the first 7 people who want to buy it at £5.99 (plus p&p) have a bargain. Available from the website or give me a call if you’re not connected. Albert Bennett with some of the royal photographs and messages he has recieved. 4 5 married for 66 years). Because complete with bush hats and automatic pilots and gun of his occupation he was shorts. This certainly gave sights. unable to join-up as his work them all an idea of where they was classed as a reserved would be heading. After 6 months he was sent occupation. He was repairing to 155 Spitfire Squadron in machinery at Woolwhich Albert found himself in India Burma and ended up staying Arsenal, police stations and working in temperatures of 120 with them as they moved on to hospitals as well as other degrees. Because of the heat Singapore and Sumatra. important organisations which he often started at 4 in the Conditions were hot but the needed his skills. morning, working till mid-day. squadron had basic buildings Finally in 1941 Albert was He was not just involved in the and huts to live in although Chrismas menu the submarines and ships at released to join-up after a maintenance and repair of the often accompanied with some from 1945. Chatham dockyard, repairing retired gentleman was found Albert stands instruments but also worked of the more exotic wildlife proudly in front of and maintaining equipment with some training who could one of the many on other essential equipment in the form of snakes and when they came in for refits. replace him. Joining up at aeroplanes he such as the oxygen systems, spiders. Kidbroke he was immediately worked on. Leaving this firm after having ‘snapped up’ as an ‘Instrument been there 6 years Albert Basher’, known now as an became service manager ‘Instrument Technician’, for another office machine someone who would be company and spent time in suitably skilled to repair the Bournemouth, Portsmouth and instruments in aircraft. After Southampton often working on a spell of basic training Albert liners repairing and servicing was sent to Meltsham for his machines when ships came technical training, which he into port. passed with flying colours and was then sent to Sutton Albert came back to Bridge central Gunnery school Bexleyheath in 1939 to take where he worked on Spitfires, up the position of service Wellingtons and Lysander’s. manager at local company Here he met many top pilots ‘Sergeants’ and settle down and learnt to play darts – an and get married. Despite the essential skill while waiting for outbreak of war in 1939 he planes to return after flights! married in 1940 (and was Alberts next posting was kept secret (as all wartime information was) and he had no idea where he was being sent. However, he went to Blackpool to get kitted out for his posting and found himself Some of the amongst a large group of Japanese invasion money that Albert his colleagues on Blackpool collected. Promenade in full tropical kit 6 7 Tragedy was part of everyday The war was over but we living and Albert got to know were still fighting. We had many of the pilots who never transferred to Sumatra where Jacqmar returned from their missions. we were helping to stop the While at Singapore he was plantation owners from being also involved in helping the killed by terrorists. You had to ‘Propaganda’ Scarves prisoners who had been held be careful there. You had to Mike Brown is a well known authority and at the infamous Changi prison. go about in twos and always author on Britains Homefront during the Albert recalls: “As the war armed. Second World War. Here he talks about a went on we knew how our fascinating aspect of Britains wartime fashion. servicemen were being I was one of the last to get treated.