My Time in the Service 

W/296507  Cpl. Miller H.C,

As soon as I became of age, I registered to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service. The reasons for my preference were due to the fact that my sister was already in the force, and my father had been a volunteer in World War One. Although I have no written proof, 1 believe he was taken prisoner in 1916, probably at the Battle of the Somme. He never did speak of this at all.

Initial training was at Newbattle Abbey and I didn’t quite know what to expect at the tender age of eighteen, but a bit of square bashing was to the forefront. Six weeks’ training on the parade ground in the dead of winter, tramping through snow in shoes only, we were never issued with boots. Forget the blisters, it was mind over matter, as indeed were the inoculations and vaccination given over a short period of time. There were also some tests which involved passing through gas chambers. During this time we were given an I.Q. test, and having attended college for shorthand, typing and book-keeping, I expected a clerical job, but no, the wisdom of the army decided that I should be trained as a wireless operator, which was graded higher than clerical. Apart from cipher, which was in a class of its own, wireless was the most demanding and highest paid of the three trades, the other two being teleprinting and switchboard.

Basic training over, I attended a sixteen week course at Signal School in Edinburgh, which encompassed Morse Code, Signal Office procedure and wireless procedure. Morse Code is not difficult to learn, but it does require a sensitive touch and the wireless procedure had to be 100% accurate as a wrong signal could give top secret information to the enemy. Although the training was intensive, most of us enjoyed it as it was very interesting. Worst of all were the lectures on the dreaded physics. The majority of us hated this subject and in the examinations, we were sure to find a question such as “Explain the workings of a trembler bell and include a sketch.” We often had to describe Ohms Law, which I still remember word perfect to this day. There was a signal training book of 117 pages and it was necessary to understand and remember everything it contained.

After successfully completing my training, 1 was posted to Scottish Command H.Q. in Edinburgh and was now attached to the Royal Corps of Signals. At times, our shifts were very long, due to a shortage of qualified operators. This was an extremely interesting posting and very rewarding most of the time, but during hostilities we were under a lot of pressure. We were monitored frequently by the War Office to see if proper procedure was being followed and I remember one female who was dispatched within an hour of sending the wrong signal. On leaving Signal School, one was classed as a B3 operator but later on we were given the opportunity to upgrade to a B2 and receive a small pay rise. I passed this successfully and was able to read over thirty words per minute.

Only men were allowed to upgrade to B 1, but they were few and far between. I only ever met one and he had been in the Merchant Navy during the First World War. We all thought that he was really ancient - he was in his fifties! Many female operators were more highly trained than our male counterparts who were only B3 graded, so we didn’t take too kindly to being told what to do when we were above them in experience and sometimes also in rank. In wartime it was not possible in my trade to go to a war zone. Two colleagues and myself were on a posting to Norway, but it was considered too dangerous and three men were substituted. Nowadays it’s different of course because of the equal opportunities ruling.

In inclement weather, we were at times unable to contact our out-stations from H.Q., of which there were many on our network - sunspots and also the aurora borealis were to blame. This was frustrating and did try our patience. Also, wireless silence was ordered at times from the top brass when we were under strict orders to listen all night or day, but not to touch a Morse key. We did look forward to our night duty rations to relieve the monotony - bread, margarine, jam and cocoa!!

Regarding living accommodation - if we were billeted in requisitioned houses, then it wasn’t too bad. At least the toilets and washing facilities were inside, -the tin huts were another matter, a long trek to the ablutions with no overhead cover in all weathers. it was certainly a good wake-up call at 0600 hours. I remember one very cold winter when it was so cold that the water was frozen in our stone bottles. One did not get much rest in a hut of twenty-four people trying to sleep after a night-duty.

I did an exchange to Inverness for eight weeks and travelled to Leeds to pick up

a prisoner who had gone AWOL. Other than that most of my time was spent in

the “near east” i.e. Edinburgh, where I rose to the dizzy heights of a corporal.

As the song says, “You’ll get no promotion this side of the ocean” so two stripes it was.

Most of the time we operated from John Watson’s School in Edinburgh which had been taken over some time previously by the military. After the cessation of hostilities, our wireless sets were moved to the dungeons of the castle. On

visiting the castle some years ago, I am almost sure that our wireless room is now part of the KOSB Museum.

Army food left a lot to be desired most of the time. Of course, we always had two choices - take it or leave it. The NAAFI canteens both at John Watson’s and at the castle were superb, everything was beautifully laid out in military fashion and I must mention the ham and egg pie and the rock buns. They were both firm favourites.

After VE Day, I completed a physical training course and did some instructing while still employed as a wireless operator.

On the whole, I enjoyed my time in the services. I think that this is due to the fact that I met many nice people. i’m still in contact with some of them. I also enjoyed my demanding job, being under a lot of pressure and having responsibility. And finally, does anyone ever forget their service number?

Harriet C Campbell (nee Miller)
Adam Watson cpl Miller Helen Gavin James Gunn Janis Steel Local figures Miss Isa Arthur Morton Gilfillan
Sammy Lee THE TWIN McLAYS William Morton