France for the first time

We left Southampton, UK for France in the March (1940). We docked in Le Havre, France.


It took 3 solid days to unload the vehicles and get the convoy together.





This was one our convoys. We left Le Havre and set off for Rennes, France. This was to be our base.

We arrived at Rennes still a bit puzzled about the rules of the road! We had to park on the outskirts of the town and told to wait until the R.E's (Royal Engineers) had finished erecting "nissan huts", they were being erected not too far away. This gave us time to make valuable repairs, this is me changing a tyre with a mate, I am the one with the dark hair.

After 3 days we moved into the barracks and found that the French Cavalry training unit occupied the best part. The area left for us was unfit to live in hence the "nissan huts".

Most of our work consisted of local details, we had the occasional run to Les-Nevern, near Brest. We were moving a hospital back to Rennes. After two months at Rennes, Hilter's storm clouds gather over France, Belgium gave in and surrendered and the "Maginot Line" was found to be of no use. Jerry (The Germans) simply left the French on guard in the "m" line and by-passed it. This picture is from my diary:-

I tell more soon.

Alf

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

My First Post...87 Years Young!!

My Grandson decided to do this for me. I don't really know what computers do!!

So with a little help from my family, I am going to try to tell my story..how we really lived it..

I won't be typing on that computer thing, my family will be doing all of that, I do sometimes forget things but I never forget the War. I loved every minute of it, yes it was bloody hard, we lived each day as it was our last, but it made men of us.

My first story is to tell you about the Second World War.

So to start today, here is a picture of me and the "boys"