Title
Memories of National Service (2)
Subject
Post-War Leicester 1945-1962
Description
Trevor Peake reflects on his period of National Service in the army.
Creator
EMOHA
Source
Ref: EMOHA33/22
Publisher
EMOHA
Rights
You may use this item in accordance with the licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.en
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Type
Oral History
Original Format
.wav
Duration
3 min 42 sec
Transcription
I was at home. Then I went to work, and then technical school during the 19... in the ‘50, in the ‘49. Then I had to go in the army, you see. February ‘51, I was a soldier. People who were older than me, they came home on leave, they'd got a uniform on, ‘How you've been going?’, all that. And you said, not too bad and all this. And where'd you go and where you posted to, you see. Of course, in the army you knew, you knew you were going overseas. And, of course, the one thing you didn't want was to go to Korea. You didn't want any of that, whether you liked it or not. And, of course, the Leicestershire Regiment did go to Korea.
How did you feel about that?
Well, I was apprehensive obviously. I didn't want to go but... I didn't want to go because it was tearing away from my roots wasn't it? And I didn't want to go. But I went, and I was passed, and this and the other.
How did it work? Would you have gone with other Leicester lads or were you all split up?
No, you all, it was a call up. Those in the age group would go to the varying offices. I think I went up Clarendon Park Road somewhere, and you was given the medical, and then you'd say, well, you'll wait for your call up papers. You did not know where you were going then. Then you get your call up papers to be at Leicester Station, here's your warrant and the train goes at so and so. My dad went with me actually and two guys who played cricket with me at Corah's. And they came to wish me goodbye, you know. It was a bit... I kissed my mother goodbye. I think it’d upset her. But anyway, some people, it upset them greatly. But the thought of desertion, what the punishment would be, was... Anyway, I went and I went to Germany and I enjoyed it to a certain extent and did a few things that me... I think me hormones cracked in well there and I did a few more things. I was a nuisance and did this, that and the other. I was a corporal. I received a stripe for being in the military police and while I was in the MP they sold more petrol to the natives than anybody else, I think. If you did everything you was told to do and didn't answer back, or do anything wrong, you was all right. You had to conform. But, what happened after about a certain period of time, you realised that it was all a load of cobblers. And you knew exactly what to do, what not to do, and where to do it, and what not to do. And you'd get away, you know. I mean, it is the biggest scive out, there's no question about that, the army. I mean, you're frightened when you go in, you're frightened. But then after a while, you realise, oh well, sod him, I can do something like this, and you know. I mean, my natural instinct was to obey everything, and then I realised that, well, he's a thicko, I'm going to take advantage of him. Which I did, you know, I mean, I was, I made money, I did in the army. Now, I'm glad I went in - at the time I went in, I didn't want to go in. But I did meet people, I did see Germany, I did, and I had some good times, some bad times.
Was the spectre of Korea hanging over you?
Oh yes, I just, yes, because when you went out. When you passed out of your initial training, which took 18 weeks in my case, right, so-and-so goes there, so-and-so goes there, and of course you would, when the Korean business came up, I just, I missed it anyway.
Was it pot luck?
Yes, there were no picking and choosing, just that draft went there. They just picked up my numbers, you see.
How did you feel about that?
Well, I was apprehensive obviously. I didn't want to go but... I didn't want to go because it was tearing away from my roots wasn't it? And I didn't want to go. But I went, and I was passed, and this and the other.
How did it work? Would you have gone with other Leicester lads or were you all split up?
No, you all, it was a call up. Those in the age group would go to the varying offices. I think I went up Clarendon Park Road somewhere, and you was given the medical, and then you'd say, well, you'll wait for your call up papers. You did not know where you were going then. Then you get your call up papers to be at Leicester Station, here's your warrant and the train goes at so and so. My dad went with me actually and two guys who played cricket with me at Corah's. And they came to wish me goodbye, you know. It was a bit... I kissed my mother goodbye. I think it’d upset her. But anyway, some people, it upset them greatly. But the thought of desertion, what the punishment would be, was... Anyway, I went and I went to Germany and I enjoyed it to a certain extent and did a few things that me... I think me hormones cracked in well there and I did a few more things. I was a nuisance and did this, that and the other. I was a corporal. I received a stripe for being in the military police and while I was in the MP they sold more petrol to the natives than anybody else, I think. If you did everything you was told to do and didn't answer back, or do anything wrong, you was all right. You had to conform. But, what happened after about a certain period of time, you realised that it was all a load of cobblers. And you knew exactly what to do, what not to do, and where to do it, and what not to do. And you'd get away, you know. I mean, it is the biggest scive out, there's no question about that, the army. I mean, you're frightened when you go in, you're frightened. But then after a while, you realise, oh well, sod him, I can do something like this, and you know. I mean, my natural instinct was to obey everything, and then I realised that, well, he's a thicko, I'm going to take advantage of him. Which I did, you know, I mean, I was, I made money, I did in the army. Now, I'm glad I went in - at the time I went in, I didn't want to go in. But I did meet people, I did see Germany, I did, and I had some good times, some bad times.
Was the spectre of Korea hanging over you?
Oh yes, I just, yes, because when you went out. When you passed out of your initial training, which took 18 weeks in my case, right, so-and-so goes there, so-and-so goes there, and of course you would, when the Korean business came up, I just, I missed it anyway.
Was it pot luck?
Yes, there were no picking and choosing, just that draft went there. They just picked up my numbers, you see.
Interviewer
Colin Hyde
Interviewee
Trevor Peake
Location
Interviewee's home
Feedback