Film Roll - Ern Dunford

1960's

Footage from holiday on Dawn Star

Summer 1990

SUMMARY OF WORKING LIFE (as recorded by Ern in his journal):

Started work as an errand boy in 1927 earning exactly 8 shillings a week.

Entered the Railway Works in 1928. Served a 5 year apprenticship as a Boilermaker (07.09.29 - 06.09.34). Dismissed (which was the usual procedure upon completion of completion of apprenticeship) in 1934. Commenced working as a Panel Beater at the Pressed Steel Co, Cowley. After a 12 month or so, back to the GWR. Sacked again so back to PSC until war broke out. In the meantime I had married. Laid off just after the outbreak of war so shifted our home back to Swindon where I got a job \'building\' aerodromes at Wroughton, from where I was called up for Military Service in 1940.

Back to Railways in 1946 and served there until the age of 65 (Boilermaker).

SUMMARY OF MILITARY LIFE (as recorded by Ern in his journal):

Jan 1 1940 : Jan 9 1945

Embarked on the Ormande (sic) from Glasgow, and returned on the Otranto to Liverpool.

Landed Bombay, straight to Bangalore:Madras:Hill Station and then various places all over India - Quetta,Calcutta,Vizacapapan,Cawnpore,Dehli,Chittagong to quote but a few. And dozens of places which I forget.

Active Service in Kohima-Imphal-Kanglatombi.

SERVICE NO:

5575252

JOB CLASS:

Medical Exam Bath 11.6.40

INDUCTED:

June 24 1940, age 26

BRANCH OF SERVICE:

Infantry

GRADE:

Private

TRAINING CAMPS:

Devizes, Marchant Barracks

DIVISION:

1st Wiltshire Regiment

COMPANY:

D

PROMOTIONS:

Acting Sergeant, Cypher Dept. 8 months 1943 at Patna, India.

BATTLES/ENGAGEMENTS:

June 44: Attacked India Army Ordnance Corps, Kanglatombi-Kohima. Imphall.

CITATIONS:

Defence Medal. Burma Star. Pat on the back.

WOUNDS:

Mostly bugs and Mosquitoes. The odd scrounge in hospital, fevers etc.

DISCHARGED AT:

Halifax, Yorks (Jan 1946). Fitted out with Civvies at Taunton same day. +