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A BRIEF HISTORY OF LIFE IN REME

 

A Craftsman’s Story 1948 to I953

 

 Contributed by: Phil KEMPSTER

 

Acknowledgements.

 

It goes without saying that I would like to thank all the people that have helped me to put this story together.  In particular I am grateful to my dear son Paul, my granddaughter Rachel, my grandson Lee and his partner Jodine, my neighbour and good friend Alison, my new found friend Derek Fairbrass from South Australia who remembered me from my time on a Recovery course in Singapore.  He reminded me of some names I had forgotten all those years ago on that course in 1950, and above all Zoe the editor of the Craftsman magazine for her help in publishing my tales in the magazine,  also Thomas Hindle for putting my photos on discs for inclusion on the 49ers web site and lastly a big thank you to my lovely wife Jean for her tolerance and understanding during the hours I have spent on my computer putting this story together.  Without all their help I could not have done it.

 

Chapters.

 

Click on text to access individual chapters.

 

1

Blandford. Six weeks of hell. April 1948

2

Arborfield and Trade Training at last. June 1948

3

Blackdown Camp and Bordon Workshops. August 1948

4

4 A/A Workshops, Barton, Manchester. October 1948

5

Tuxford Camp, Nottinghamshire. 1949

6

Back to 4A/A Workshops, Barton, Manchester. March 1949

7

The REME Drafting Company, Poperinghe Barracks, Arborfield. December 1949

8

Life aboard the troopship M/V Dunera. 1949

9

42 Base Workshops and District Workshops, Singapore. 1950/51

10

Recovery Mechanics Course, Changi, Singapore. 1950

11

Back to my job with the Inspectorate.

12

Johore Baru, Malaya. September 1951 – October 1952

13

The BMH, Cameron Highlands, Malaya, 1952

14

Back to work at 221 Vehicle Battalion Workshops, 1952

15

It’s not all work and no play, 1950 - 1952

16

Dunera revisited, November 1952

17

Singapore and Malaya revisited.

18

Abbreviations and Army Slang.

 

 

Published: 1st November 2007