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I joined the Army in June 1940 as a volunteer. Paid the King's shilling (5 pence). Reported to the racing stables Dringhouses, York. Slept in the stables on straw mattress and pillows which we filled ourselves, did 8 weeks basic training, moved to several places in Yorkshire and went on various courses. Pay 2 shillings per day (10 pence). In 1941 transferred to 11th Battalion West Yorkshire stationed on the Isle of Wight, building Anti-Tank defences during the day and Anti-Invasion defences at night. December 1941 on a draft for overseas, got a weeks leave, reported to Formby Barracks near Liverpool January 1942, sailed from Liverpool on a Dutch ship "The Sibajak", 3,500 troops on board, awful conditions, took 6 weeks to get to Cape Town. Had 2 days shore leave, changed ships, arrived at Port Suez, Egypt 2 weeks later. I did 6 weeks training and acclimatizing to the weather (90 to 100) hot. Learned to drive.

Early May 1942 left with 1 Officer and 50 other ranks to join 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment. Got first Mail from home, 3 to 4 months either way, still not allowed to say where we are (censored). Arrived at the port of Tobruk, Lybia. The West Yorkshire were part of the 9th Indian Brigade 5th Indian Division the 8th Army. We were really soldiering now, joined a platoon of D company in a platoon position in the defensive line around Tobruk. We lived and slept in our postitions under the sun (90 - 100). Slept under the stars, with just a blanket, did not undress, water rationed to 2 pints per day in your bottle. Had no water for washing, washed our clothes in petrol. 4th June on the move again, deeper into the desert, signs of war all around. 5th June the Division put in an attack on the German lines, which was a disaster. Infantry can't fight tanks! Germans counter attacked on the night of the 5th, similar things were happening to the rest of the 8th Army, and so started the long retreat to El Alamein - 340 casualties.

Early July took up our positions on Ruweisat Ridge part of the Thin Red Line, with South Africans, Australians and New Zealanders. No more retreating, we had to hold only 40 miles from Alexandria, Egypt. Montgomery was forming a new Army in Egypt, now got paid 3 shillings and 3 pence a day (17 1/2pence). July turned to August and we attacked, shelled and bombed day and night, suffered a plague of flies. Rations came up towards darkness, a hot bully beef stew and dry rations for next day, tinned cheese, fish, bully beef. When you opened a tin of bully beef you could just pour it out, still short of water. All had desert sores on body, legs and arms. Relieved on September 9th the few who were left, moved to Mema, camped under the stars. Next move across the deserts of Palestine and Trans Jordan, arrived in Iraq near Baghdad. Iraqies anti-British, we were on Internal Secure Duties in a tented camp, slept on floor still, water situation better, able to get a canvas bucket of water for a bath. Very hot 120. No social life, no canteen, nothing. On the odd night allowed to go into Baghdad.

1943 Early May on the move, took ship to Basra, 2 weeks later arrived in Bombay. There we took the train 7 days across India, arrived Chas in Bihar Province. Nothing there, no facilities, no tents, under the stars again. Got a fortnights leave in Calcutta went mad, 5 shillings a day now (25 pence. Started jungle training got new intakes, next stop Burma. November 1943 on the move, across Bengal by train to Chittagon and to the Arakan Front on the border of India and Burma. Soon in action, some success major battle for the ADMIN Box. West Yorkshires took major part, first big success against the Japanese. A book has been written about this action called "The Battle of the Box" by P Turnbull. March 1944 on the move again, took to flying without training, flown to Imphal 800 miles, surrounded and cut off with the rest of the 14th Army. Lots more casualties, new intakes. The monsoon season was now starting, if you consider Manchester a wet place with 32 inches of rain a year, in Burma 350 inches in 5-6 months the other part of the year, no rain. 5th indian Division new task to persue the retreating Japanese up the Teddim Road during the monsoon season. Now August 1944, we were now sleeping in the open, wet to the skin, the sun came out now and again to dry us out, all our supplies came out of the sky on parachutes, men were going down in their hundreds with Typhus, Malaria, Dysentry. Japanese were in worse position no supplies starving to death. By November 1944 we were at Kalemyo on the Chindwin river, when we were relieved and a strip built and we were flown back to Imphal, the monsoon was now ended. Christmas 1944 now near Kohima resting only a few of us left again, re-equipping, new intakes. January moved again north to Jerhat on the Brahmapura river, a huge tented camp was erected, training was re-started. Concert Parties came to entertain us. Mobile Cinemas arrived and we got beer rations, life began to look good.

Now on 10 shillings per day (50 pence)early February and we are told to be ready for a return to the battle for Burma. March arrived and the West Yorkshires with the rest of 9 Brigade were flown in to Merktila, in central Burma. Behind the Japanese lines and across their lines of communications, by the end of March the Japanese withdrew, after a month of heavy fighting we the West Yorkshires also suffered heavily again. May and June came and went and the monsoon rains came again, we were heavily engaged against the Japanese in the quest to reach Rangoon. The war in Burma was nearly over. The Atom bombs were dropped in early August, and I was soon to begin my journey home, my Regiment went on to take the surrender at Singapore. I arrived back in England late 1945, then early in 1946 i was posted to Germany where I was attached to the Control Commission for Germany where I spent the most enjoyable time of my Army Service. I was demobbed in August or September of 1946. Pay was now 12 shillings a day (60 pence). Of the 50 other ranks who joined the 2nd Battallion West Yorkshire Regiment in Tobruk 1942 only 2 were still with the Regiment when the time came to come home.

4544639 Ex Cpl H. FOSTER
WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

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