 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
|
There are many books and films telling of the heroic deeds of WWII. The Normandy landings, Battle of the Bulge, Monte Cassino. But what of post war National Service? Here is the story of a young man called to serve King and Country in the late 1940s. Frank Dickinson describes his life in Bradford and receiving his call-up papers to join with other young men on a journey to places only ever dreamed of. He tells of the uncertainty and unease at having to travel across the world with new friends and other characters. From cook-house duty to Military Police, from night-time guard duty to the pleasure houses and markets of Egypt, Frank gives his memories and political observations of the real, everyday life of a British National Serviceman. Frank Dickinson was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire on the 31st December 1929. He subsequently attended the local Hanson Grammar School, but due to home circumstances left when he was 14 years of age. He worked as a commercial paint-mixer, a bakery hand and labourer, but eventually became a locomotive fireman with the LNER: once firing the record-breaking steam locomotive ‘Mallard’ – though at a slower speed! During the 2nd War he was a member of the Army Cadet Force and worked (under-age) as a voluntary ARP Messenger. In 1948 he joined the Army as a National Serviceman and as a Gunner served for over two years in the volatile Middle East. On his return to Bradford he worked as a bakery hand and then as a textile operative at John Pilley’s Mill in Eccleshill. Later he joined the Police Service and served for 31 years in the Bradford City and West Yorkshire Forces. Interested in local and natural history, he has contributed to newspapers and regional magazines such as The Dalesman and Yorkshire Ridings and whilst serving in the Police wrote articles for various Police magazines. He enjoys researching local soccer history and has written many feature articles for ‘City Gent’ the Bradford City Supporters’ fanzine. His interest in writing began at school and since then has had poetry and prose published regularly. He is a member of The Wilfred Owen Society and The Bronte Society as well as being a founder-member and leader of Ilkley Poets. Currently he is Honorary Secretary of The Eccleshill Local History Group.
|
 |
|
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||
