A Sojourn in Norfolk

Back in Ogbourne St. George came the news that the Regiment was about to move to participate in another field exercise. Also, when the exercise was over, it would be moving into new quarters. Consequently, our Churchills were again loaded on flat-cars of the Great Western Railway for transportation across the country to the east.

Exercise Scorpion in participation with 2 Corps over, we took up residence nearby the village of Brandon, the only remaining place where the ancient skill of flint-knapping is still practiced. Located in a pine forest, our living-quarters were in the ubiquitous Nissen Hut. Not forgotten, by all those who ever lived in a Nissen hut, are the rude awakenings when duty NCOs rattled their rifle butts across the hut’s corrugated exterior. Incidentally, Brandon is where many of the episodes of the previously mentioned "Dad's Army" were produced.

Towards the end of July, several additions to Regimental strength arrived from the Warminster and Catterick RTR Training Regiments, among whom were Troopers Hughes, Young, Wheatley and Knott. More of these four, who were posted to B Squadron, will appear later, in the meantime, the reason why the last mentioned came to be nicknamed "Ibe."

First it, is necessary to explain that the last train from the south arrived at Thetford station between 0030 and 0100 hours. As many who were given a one-day pass spent it in Cambridge, the deadline of 2359 hrs, for checking in at the guardroom, was not strictly enforced. In fact, for most of the time, a Bedford 3-tonner would be waiting to transport personnel on the seven mile journey back to camp.

Now to the arrival of Trooper Knott. By the time the formalities were taken care of, it was past 0200 hours before he was escorted to the Nissen hut housing 2 Troop. Stumbling, in the dim light to locate his bed, he awakened from deep sleep, among others, the Troop Sgt who asked, in a voice most thunderous, "Who the heck are you?" In a broad Devonshire accent came the response, "I be Knott, I be." Henceforth he was always Ibe Knott.

Rumours, or more accurately conjectures, about the future, constantly were topics of conversation. For instance, it had been decided that all personnel needed to be "toughened up." As part of the process, reveille was set for 0500 followed by a run, of about a mile, for a swim in a small stream-fed lake. Then, when it became common knowledge, that the Regiment had recently received mobilisation orders, the increased physical activities gave rise to the rumour that we were being conditioned to become an Infantry unit. Fortunately, unlike the much stronger possibility towards the end of the Italian Campaign, the rumour was laid to rest on being told that the Regiment was going to Dunoon, Scotland, to practice sea-landings.

In early August, shortly after going to bed, I went into a delirium due to a facial infection serious enough for me to be taken immediately to Newmarket Hospital where an operation took place on my upper left jaw.