Submitted by Vic Chanter.

After the destroyer HMS Kingsmill had completed her invasion duties at Gold Beach during Operation Overlord, we returned to Southampton and I, who had been seconded to her with shore to ship ‘communication facilities’ but had never landed, was returned to HMS Pembroke, Chatham.
D Day had come and gone and our forces were making headway in France. Suddenly I was surplus to requirements. I grabbed the chance that I had long awaited: I put in for a course for advancement, to be made up to yeoman, before the powers-that-be could find me amongst the new arrivals at HMS Pembroke, Chatham, and come up with some reason why I shouldn’t take this opportunity.
The communication ratings were now billeted at Cookham Camp. Our duties were less hazardous than I had experienced for a long time, so it was whilst carrying out fire-watching duties that I made this decision. I’d not had this opportunity for years.
Now, with my request granted, I was off by train to Petersfield in Hampshire to be met by a pick-up and taken to a camp at East Meon. This was a rambling estate with beautiful gardens and a magnificent mansion, the home of Canadian born actress Beatrice Lillie, Lady Peel. The property was taken over by the Royal Navy for the duration of the war.
The course was a gruelling one, crammed into a few weeks. One small test involved entering a classroom of senior ratings to explain and demonstrate, on a blackboard, a choice of two out of three fleet manoeuvres. We were allowed the briefest of moments to consider our choices. If you knew the subjects, it was a doddle: address the ‘pupils’, explain the problem, pick up the chalk to demonstrate your strategy, turn now and again to view the blank and bored faces, crack a joke and ignore the blank and bored faces; concentrate!
The killicks, POs and Chiefs that made up the class were not there to listen and learn - but I learned! I am in full flow with my second test when, from behind me, I hear, “But, why does the destroyer screen have to do that?” Answering questions was not in my scenario. Happily, the class and the judges do not see my look of panic as I face the blackboard and survey my handiwork of the fleet in Battle Fleet Order No.1.
My fail-safe mechanism clicks in as I boldly turn to face the blank face of my inquisitor with his hand up. I pick up the blue Fleet Manual, brandish it as if to throw it, and tell him that there it is in black and white, written in ‘our bible’ and must be obeyed without question, so that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet. My advice, ‘Know it, or know where to find it!’ Pure waffle!
The bit of light relief was: walking in the grounds, the light-hearted banter, the evening cinema on the camp with the members of the WRNS, who were on separate courses or working in the Servery and into catering. Once the course was completed, I returned to Chatham.
From Chatham Barracks, HMS Pembroke, I was sent to the Royal Engineers’ Brompton Barracks, part of which had been given over to the RN Communication Branch overflow. It seemed, however, that my move was to be short-lived, and I was to be returned to Cookham.
During my short stay at Brompton, I was recognised by someone that I regret to say I had forgotten. He knew I had been a band singer - in a previous life - and it was he who was instrumental in informing the Commanding Officer at Cookham that I was ‘required back at Brompton’. (Yes. It was complicated at the time too!).
Nevertheless, I was obliged to report to Cookham and, as I awaited my transport, along with kitbag and hammock - which were constantly being packed and unpacked - a pick-up arrived with a WRN driver. I found the journey to my destination a little more interesting than with my usual butch transport drivers. I discovered her name - and we had a brief encounter.
When the Cookham camp CO, Captain Mason, informed me that I was to be returned to Brompton Barracks at some future date - when the paperwork caught up, no doubt - I was impressed with my friend’s influence to have arranged the switch.
It was now into December 1944. I hadn’t moved yet, so I was invited to a pre-Christmas dance at Brompton to sing with the band. With no rehearsal, I had to browse through the band’s programme to choose a few numbers and check the keys. I managed to fit in here and there, but, for the most part, the boys and I chatted about future plans. Fortunately, the camp had provided us with a bar for the evening.
On the occasions when I wasn’t otherwise occupied with the band, I joined in the running-up-to-Christmas spirit, and danced with some of the invited WRNS and local girls. But I was only there for that night.
Soon I was making the return journey to Brompton Barracks and experiencing a RN life-style that I might have planned for myself. I met up with the band boys again, and was introduced to an HO rating, Lee Laws, who, I was told, was from the Drury Lane Theatre. He was in the process of putting together a show with the accent on music. I was asked to join the cast, and that is why I had been snatched back.
Handling the musical arrangements was the bassist, Bill Stark and the pianist, Norman Wilberforce. Behind the scenes was a mixture of RN and WRN ratings for chorus and situation comedy sketches. The band was still being recruited to augment the small dance band, and to replace two vacancies caused by the inevitable draft chits.
We were impressed with a young clarinettist, who had modelled himself on the likes of Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. When he was given the band parts, he confessed he couldn’t read music! We were a bit desperate, so we used him anyway.
Rehearsals had to be snatched, during off duty periods, at the RE Theatre in the barracks.
In the States the Merry Macs, Mills Brothers and Modernairs et al were popular, so five of us got together with piano and bass and rehearsed routines combining comedy with harmony. We each had our individual band parts to practice whilst we were apart.
The group, The Buccaneers, was launched and became a favourite feature of our shows at hospitals and camps. Eventually spotted by Cecil Madden, BBC Head of Light Entertainment, the group was booked to appear on Variety Bandbox. We attended the rehearsal at the Shaftesbury Theatre, but before the recording of the show, the war caught up with us again, and several of our cast received sailing orders, including two of the Buccs. The Radio Times showed Ivy Benson and her band, and ‘The Buccaneers, the new close harmony singing group’. I can’t remember what act took our place.
We gave one last show, ‘LET’S GO’ An Intimate Revue, before the tearful break-up. (After all, we did have WRNS in our company - and you know what we luvvies are like!). It was at the Hornsey Town Hall, and because our backdrops and scenery were designed for small stages and halls, we had to ‘shrink’ the wide expanse of the Town Hall stage with drapes. The tabs really became the wings.
I was actually on long leave at this time, so, when we closed, I, with no props or instrument, caught the next train home from London, whilst some returned to base.