Demob
Demob
Many National Service men had a chart inside the door of their locker where they marked off each day towards the date of their demob and a great many moaned about their lot in having to spend two years of their life doing something they hated. They seemed to forget that if they had been a few years older they would have had to spend many more years than that and it would not have been so pleasant. The cruel fact for some of them was that they thought they had been missed somewhere along the way and that they wouldn’t have to do it. One person in the armourers had been selling coal-cutting machinery and had been making a high wage then was caught just months before the upper limit. He moaned for two years.

I had signed on for three years service plus two years in the reserves and I was reminded that the two years in the reserves would be unpaid and that I would have to keep my uniform in good order in case I was called up again. I was assigned to a reserve squadron at RAF Leuchars I had a choice of either accepting £8 or getting a full outfit prior to my release. I decided to get the clothing as it must be worth more than £8. Unfortunately, I was then told that I would have to go down to Woking to get it.

So the day came when I would have to reverse the procedure that I had to make when I arrived at camp. This entailed going round the various departments and getting removed from their files. It didn’t take long this time and I was soon on my way to Woking.

I received my train tickets to take me there and then home. I travelled first of all to London and stayed overnight at the Union Jack Club near Waterloo Station. This was a temporary overnight accommodation for members of the forces and had at that time dormitory accommodation for a small fee. The club is still there and has been completely rebuilt to modern hotel standards. After breakfast, I caught the train to Woking which was mainly a Guards depot. The clothing distribution was in a large hall and you walked round and were asked what type of garments you required.  You could have a cap or a soft hat, various types of coats, a suit and shirt with cuff links. All the clothes fitted but I suddenly realised that the £8 might have been a better decision. The clothes were all bundled up and I caught the train back to London and then home. 

Some time later I started to receive cheques as pay for my time in the reserves so somebody along the line got it wrong as I wasn’t supposed to get paid. I got a letter from someone reminding me that I should ensure that my uniform was kept in good order and that I could possibly be called up again in an emergency. Well, by this time my uniform was well gone as I had been wearing it to work, so I had a worrying time until my time in the reserve was past and they could forget about me.
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