The Signaller Wren is an unusual work recalling the author's experiences during the Second World War. His naval memoirs are accompanied by generous relevant historical diagrams and photographs. Some snippets of his more tender years include a lovely memory of the pre-war birthday party aboard HMS Hood. Shore leave is packed with fond memories of special time spent with Ann and shows the reader the life style of young people during a most difficult era. These contrast with accounts of the demanding duties of watch keeping and arduous training leading to a serious loss of sleep. The letters from Ann, the Signaller Wren, are religiously transcribed to the last blot and weary mood on duty throughout the night in the signal tower of the naval base in the Firth of Forth, Rosyth Dockyard. In November 1944, some months after the D-day landings on continental Europe, the author became surplus to the needs of the Royal Navy and was transferred to the Indian Army. He served with a Gurkha battalion until his final release from military service with India becoming independent.
The Indian section includes an account of the author's birth among the tea estates, the elephants and tigers, of the Nilgiri hills south of Mysore. He shares his evocative memories and paints vivid images of Indian culture, cities, animals and the friends he made. Much of his time with the Gurkhas was spent under canvas and often above the snow line in the North West Frontier Province, that part of Pakistan that is so troubled today. At that time the roads were only open to traffic on two designated days each week after the army occupied the hill tops to prevent sniping by tribesmen. In the final year of British India many who had previously lived peacefully as neighbours now became deadly enemies as aspiring politicians sought to carve up this vast land. There were near impossible demands made upon the army to provide succour to both Muslims and Hindus. After five years away it was now time for the author to return to Blighty; to his home where recovery from the war was not going to be at all easy.
- ISBN13 9780722339695
- Publish Date 23 November 2009
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 27 January 2021
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Arthur H.Stockwell Ltd
- Format Paperback
- Pages 288
- Language English