[Burma Star Association]

On his way out to the war in Burma my uncle crossed the equator. He had his 'equator crossing card' signed by many who were with him at the time (summer 1942), I thought I would post the list of signatures and their home towns here - you never know, perhaps the names mean something to someone and if nothing more as a memorial to those soldiers.

NAME LOCATION

? Ramsden Surrey

J. Bain

J. Huggan Hawick

M. Atkinson Catford

S. Wilkins London

P. Johnson Annesley Woodhouse

W. Loadlitter Newcastle

A G Belt Bridgend, Glamorgan

Cliff Wilks Newport, Mon

R S Roberts Senghenydd, Caerphilli, Mid Glamorgan

E. Brown Nottingham

A Kinninmont Fife

R A McNeech

J G Smith Middlesex

A E C Chalmers Bow E3

H T Williams South Wales

M J Nightingale Lewisham

L A Ealand Catford, London

H F Clark Sidmouth

Charlie T Abey Greenwich

Wallace R Porter

A G Hunt Norfolk

F Lindsey Lewisham

G McKenzie Edinburgh

Alf Hunt Norfolk

NEPTUNE!!!!

Guy Richardson

Groom

C W Sharpe Lewisham

K Holland Lewisham

R H Da Hukamdad Dagyk, Yuli

L J Milles Roehampton

[WW2 Nottingham & Nottinghamshire]

What a brilliant idea.

A short story told to me by my grandparents....

During the war my Grandfather Danny Littleboy (cockney lad born and bred) was posted to Nottingham as an ack ack gunner. He was stationed at Bulwell Forest - I think him and his army mates slept in what is now the golf club opposite the Golden Ball pub (I dont think the pub was there during the war). They were to take up positions on the roof on what was (I think) a cinema at the time - the Adelphi, at the bottom of St Albans Road, it later became a bingo hall and was demolished some 20 odd years ago and is now a KFC.

He told me how during the days after their arrival they had to set up their base during the night time hours in the blackout and how one of his friends had stepped off the roof, fallen and died on the street below.

Their orders were to switch on search lights when enemy plains were coming over and to shoot them down before they could reach the airfield at Hucknall. He described how on the first night that they switched on the lights they lit up the area like a fair ground and the enemy air planes droppe their load over Bulwell instead of the airfield - needless to say he wasnt impressed with the officers choice of location for the lights!!

It was during this time that he met my grandmother Mary, fell in love, married and the rest as they say is history.

My grandfather Danny died three years ago aged 89.

[Burma Star Association]

My Uncle was in Burmu and India during the war, I have his diaries and a great many documents, photo's, letters and art work relating to his time there.

During my childhood he lived only 3 doors down from me and visited every single day - never once during that time did he mention the war, he would talk about being in Burma/India but never in connection to the war. He talked of snakes, people he met, friends, food, scenary etc until one day when I was around 18 years old he said ...

"I have book I want you to look at", he opened the book, pointed to a passage and sat silently as I read of how he had rescued his injured commanding officer whilst under fire, continued to 'call in' enemy positions and stopped many times to pick up wounded and dieing Indian soldiers in his truck, returning them to safety - he was awarded the MM.

When I finished reading it I looked at my elderly uncle again as he took the book away from me, packed it neatly into its box then he said "we'll saw nowt more about it" and true to his word he never mentioned his bravery again or the war again.

His only comment that betrayed his feelings about that time was during a discussion about his very old TV set, which had been repaired many times and was about to breath its last - he discussed how difficult it was to buy British made goods and how everything was now made in Japan - "they are very good though uncle" I told him. "Aye, they might be Ellie, but if you saw what those buggers did, you would never put a penny into their pockets".

I have been researching his journey and one thing that truely amazed me is that this Bulwell lad set out from Logan Street, Bulwell in February 1942, he arrived home 3 years and 10 months later, having travelled (as the crow flies) some 34,541 miles - the reality is that he would have travelled much further than this due to the terrain.

[Hello]

Hiya Pollie - welcome.

,,,, tell us a bit about yer-sen,,,,,

Thanks for the warm welcomes, a bit more about me sen....

Born and brought up in Nottingham not far from Shonky Pit. Moved away from Nottingham in 1995, came back in 98 and moved away again in 2001. Now living in Lincs on the coast - literally! (50 meters from the sea at high tide). Trained as a nurse, worked as a ward sister for years until I had to retire after an accident at work, currently studying a BSC in Physics with the OU.

I used to frequent the Imperial, Boat club, Warro's and Morts back in the 80's and the Irish in the 90's - the city centre wasnt such a scary place back then, I certainly wouldnt wander around there now like I used to.

Hobbies include MMORPG (world of warcraft), reading fantasy (Eddings, Tolkein) painting, music (zep to zappa and much in between).

The loves of my life are two over exuberant labradors - not known as a dangerous breed, but if they were to land on you it would sting a little

Hope that gives you a little peek at me, ask if you wanna know more.

[Nottingham gig scene]

Hmmmmmm the name is familliar - old timers disease robs me of many names and faces, I remember Freddie Ballinger, Meglomania (metal micky), Vern (Werner) and I wonder if the John you mention was a blond haired guy who just didnt look like a rock jock in a million years since he was always so smart?

[Nottingham gig scene]

"it's been a while since i was on the radio, i think the last time i was with graham neale on trent," - metal micky

blimey it has been a while hasnt it! it has been 24 years since Graham died and nearer 30 years since he ran a series of shows with guest rock jocks on his Castle Rock show. Oh how time flies when you are having fun.

"ive been trying to get radio nottm to let me do a rock show but i gotta keep at them me thinks." - metal micky

That reminds me of another local jock back in the 80's setting up his decks outside radio trent officers (hmmmm it could have been radio nottingham) and blasting them with his fave tracks - Freddie Ballinger I think his name was, not sure it was a successful tactic since I dont remember him ever getting radio work, you could always try it though!

[rock clubs/pubs]

Hi Pollie, the Potters on Beckhampton used to be known as the Cavalier. Did you used to live around there?

Ah yes, the Cavalier - thanks for that Denshaw, no I didnt live there.

[rock clubs/pubs]

Hi new to the forum and thought I would add some memories here. I used to frequent some of the rock 'venues' in the 80's

The Boat, brilliant on a Fri/Sat nights

The Imperial - I think only one night a week when there wasnt some form of rock music on.

Potters Bar, Beckhampton Road (although I dont think it was called Potters Bar at the time can anyone remind me what it was called?)- Tuesdays

Morts - what ever happened to Vern (I think his name was spelled Werner)

Rock City - some great bands

Bierkeller - cosy!

Nice to meet you all.

[Hello]

New member here saying hello or should I say Eyup me duck, I was born in Nottingham, moved away in the 90's. I enjoyed reading the 80's threads and some of the names brought a smile to my face. Looking forward to contributing and rekindling some old memories.