Life in the Royal Artillery – Bert Spooner, WWII

Bert Spooner was born at 9 Harewood Road, Sheffield in 1945 before moving to 61 High Street, Mosborough. In 1946 his family moved to 3 Elm Crescent before eventually moving on to settle at 6 Ash st Mosborough in 1947.

Life in the Royal Artillery

25lb Artillery gun
A 25lb field gun, Salcombe, Devon

Bert took his camera with him throughout the war and took many pictures. He was soon drafted into the Rifle Regiment and sent to Italy following the main Southern thrust, forcing the Germans up and out of Italy. Whilst there he gained promotion to Lance Corporal.

One night whilst out on night manoeuvres, the company split and went on separate trails. The following morning brought news that the other unit had been taken prisoner by the Germans. Odd pockets of Bert’s company were still active and still believed they could win. Eventually he got through to Germany and came home from demob in Germany..

KEEPING FIT IN TRAINING

 

Much of the repairs to the huts and camp site in general was done by the regiment, dad always said the army trained many different trades even through the war.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry’s favourite photo of his dad darning his socks.

Rabbiting was a great way to get fresh meat ,with loads being available on the downs

Seeing the guys on here just makes me wonder how many were lucky like my dad to get back to Blighty.

Once home, Bert became a shoe repairer in Mosborough, living in Ash Street. He often talked of the dodge they did on the railways, a ticket was purchased used and then saved, the next week they would buy another ticket, get that punched, take out the old ticket, tear a bit off, chew it into a pulp, then put that back into the hole that had been punched and used it again. ‘Owt to save money’, he used to tell me!

 

 

 

 

Memories written by Terry Spooner about his dad Bert Spooner.