6
o'clock in the morning 9th June 1953, the excitement of the coronation
now history one week old. I was equally excited as today was the day
my life changed forever! I was too excited to eat and was desperate
for 0845 to come along so that I could say my farewells and get to the
bus stop in time to catch the 0855 bus from Oakdale to Crumlin where
I would change buses for Newport.
I said cheerio to my Mum & Dad at my home (I had forbidden them
to accompany me, my Mum reminded me, for what must have been the 50+
time, that as a grammar school lad I was throwing my education away!)
Bus on time and changed buses in Crumlin to get to Newport. I STILL
REMEMBER asking for a child's single to Newport One shilling & three
pence (6 &1/2p) On arrival in Newport I walked over the
bridge and down to the station where I was met by a recruiting sgt who
issued me with my travel warrant. Train on time (Steam of course)
I boarded with my 16" suitcase (same as evacuees had during
the war) arrived in Paddington 3hrs 20mins later and then had to
get across London to Charing X which meant underground to Oxford Circus
then change to get to Charing X. I met up with a gaggle of what I then
called REAL marines who were joining the corps on that day. On arrival
at Deal station we were met by a 3x ton truck which seemed ENORMOUS
to little old me!!
I
was dropped off first at the main gate of east barracks which was to
become home for the next 3yrs or so. I was told that I would be in Barham
house but that would wait until I had completed my initial training.
I will never forget the huge bathroom on the ground floor of O block
and the toilet block across the parade ground! Before I knew it 2100hrs
arrived I was amongst 20 or so other lads babbling about a world that
was alien to me.
This really was "the first day of the rest of my life". Little
did I realise that I would visit 119 countries and well in excess of
300 cities/towns/villages and travel 1,253,000 miles!!...............by
the age of 40! TRULY AMAZING!
Mike Webber
