the mediterranean and the next thing i know, we re in land, in a port, and i found out it was the port of algiers in north africa. very scary for an 18 year old boy who d never been out of north shields, yeah, but we just got on with it. you know, i mean, if the sergeant says, jump, you said, how high? and we just did whatever we were told to do and that s the easiest way to get on in the army. if the sergeant or the corporal says do it, you do it. a lot of the time, i was trained in weapons. but because i had a little bit of a problem with one of my eyes, they thought that a rifle wasn t a good idea for me. and so, they put us on bren guns. in fact, for a period of time in africa, i was a twin bren gunner, and that meant that i was sitting
of my eyes, they thought that a rifle wasn t a good idea for me. and so, they put us on bren guns. in fact, for a period of time in africa, i was a twin bren gunner, and that meant that i was sitting on a very small vehicle with two bren guns pointing backwards with the convoy was in front and i was like tail end tommy watching for aircraft attacking from behind. or if i was at the front, then i did the same again. but they thought because of the eye problem, that i was better with the twin bren guns rather than with a rifle. on occasions as you were driving along particular roads, everything was fine, no problems. and it happens just like that. you hear a buzz, you look up, there s somebody throwing bits and pieces at you, so you fight them back.
jump, you said, how high? and we just did whatever we were told to do and that s the easiest way to get on in the army. if the sergeant or the corporal says do it, you do it. a lot of the time, i was trained in weapons. but because i had a little bit of a problem with one of my eyes, they thought that a rifle wasn t a good idea for me. and so, they put us on bren guns. in fact, for a period of time in africa, i was a twin bren gunner, and that meant that i was sitting on a very small vehicle with two bren guns pointing backwards with the convoy was in front and i was like tail end tommy watching for aircraft attacking from behind. or if i was at the front, then i did the same again. but they thought because of the eye problem, that i was better with the twin bren guns rather than with a rifle.
thing mediterranean and the next thing i mediterranean and the next thing i know, inland, in a port. thing i know, inland, in a port. and thing i know, inland, in a port, and! thing i know, inland, in a port, and i found out it was the port, and i found out it was the port of algiers. in north africa the port of algiers. in north africa. very scary for an 18 year old boy who had never been 18 year old boy who had never been out 18 year old boy who had never been out of north sheils. yeah, but we been out of north sheils. yeah, but we just been out of north sheils. yeah, but we just got on with it. you know. but we just got on with it. you know. if but we just got on with it. you know, if the sergeant says jump, know, if the sergeant says jump, you say how high? and we ust jump, you say how high? and we just did jump, you say how high? and we just did whatever we were told to do. just did whatever we were told to do, and that s the easiest way to do, and that
and we just did whatever we were told to do. and that s the easiest way to get on in the army. if the sergeant or the corporal says, do it, you do it. a lot of the time i was trained in weapons, but because i had a little bit of a problem with one of my eyes, they thought that a rifle wasn t a good idea for me. and so they put me on bren guns. in fact, for a period of time in africa. ..i was a twin bren gunner, and that meant that i was sitting on a very small vehicle with two bren guns pointing backwards. with the convoy in front and i was like tail end tommy, watching for aircraft, attacking from behind. or if i was at the front, then i did the same again. but they thought because of the eye problem that i was better with the twin bren guns rather than with a rifle. on occasions as you were driving