Army Life - The first days

By A Harris 123327----286 G.T.Coy R.A.S.C----M.E.F.

1st December 1939

I joined the army. We were sent to the training centre in Felixstowe, UK, it was called "Felixstowe No2 Coy".

My first guard post was Christmas Eve. We were promised leave but it was cancelled owing to movement orders on passing-out..Embark for an unkown destination near the end of February 1940, this was Stow-on-the-Wold, UK.

When we arrived at Stow, everywhere was covered in ice and snow. It was freezing. This was where we started to work in earnest, our new company was formed the "5 Res M.T". We were lucky and all of us given 4 days embarkation leave. We returned to Stow and went as a unit to Southampton, UK. We were heald there for a while, then off to France.

From the left, Bobby Smith, me, second from the left, good looking fellar, Fez and (Jimmy?) Jenkins