After my grandad, James Goss left the service, my grandmother insisted on writing down everything he could remember. This meant many years down the line we would be able to learn about his service without him having to recall. I have recently started investigating my grandfather and what he did for our country. In his own words...
Enlisted at Aldershot on 12/4/1938 at the age of 18 years old. Joined under father's advice so that he could choose which department he would serve in.
Was sent to Catterick signals depot and then to France with BEF. Stationed on French/Belgium frontier, eventually retreated from German advance to coast at Lapanne (Fr) and Dupanne (belg). Walked to Dunkirk every night for 3/4 nights and spent the days on the beaches. Early hours of morning, coming back along the beach, saw a small launch and waded out to it. Petty officer of a rating (with a gun) on board. Six Brits dragged on board. Water filled boat with hopeful French and Belgian soldiers. Fended off.
Launch had Stuart-Turner engine, got stuck on a sandbank - burnt out clutch. Got a tow by a bigger naval launch. Got into Ramsgate about 10pm with the port shut down, having taken all day to cross the channel. WVS (not expecting any more boats) opened the gates and made a cup of tea.
Boarded a train and was told to sit two men per carriage. Local people turned up with sandwiches. Travelled with the plan to get off at Arborfield. Fell asleep and woke up in Cardiff.
Next to Norfolk into 1st Division. Junior NCOs course for two months. Halfway through, an officer came round and asked if anyone could read and send Morse at 25 words a minute. Those who could went for another interview. Saw a major from the War Office and had a peculiar interview where only personal questions were asked about family, not about service. Was asked if I would do a job which involved foreign bodies. Answer - yes and was posted back to 1st division.
Out on manoeuvres when I was called back to base and told to go to London District Signals. Next day I was sent to Thame Park in Oxfordshire. My job there was to teach radio communication (Morse code) to all "foreign bodies" and British. Then transferred to the operations section and communicated with them in this country. The agents were then dropped abroad behind enemy lines by parachute.
Eventually some returned, picked up by a Lysander when dropping other agents. Their training was updated and the agents would be re-assigned. This continued to the end of the war.
War ended in Europe and I was posted to India in May 1948, landed in Bombay.
War with Japan ended in August and I was in the jungle with a French padre and other Frenchmen, living off the land. Sent back to Columbia, Delhi and was put in charge of communications for Delhi Victory Week.
Finally, homeward bound.
