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Born 5/1/1924 at 121 Hutton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, Maurice Bassett recalls some cherished memories from near the end of the war after taking part in the disastrous campaign at Arnhem
On returning from Arnhem I was sent to a RHU in England (regimental holding unit) at Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. There I saw the end of hostilities out, before joining another unit. Germany had capitulated and only the Japanese were still fighting in the Far East.
Having had enough of the fighting I volunteered to go to Germany with the occupation forces, and hope not to have to go over to the East and fight with the army over in Malaya, or some jungle island.
I left England and landed in Holland, this time by ship, and went by train to Osnabruck. After doing guard duties and other tasks I was able to go on a cooks' course, and I was transferred to the Monmouthshire Regiment.
They were stationed in a small place named Bad Salzuflen, a (health spa area ). After some weeks with that unit it was disbanded and I was once again transferred to the Royal Artillery with the rank of gunner, then as time went on, to the Dorset Regiment, and the Gloucester Regiment, before finally finishing up in the Olympic stadium at Berlin.
At long last my Demobilization number had come through and I was sent back to England, where at York I received my civilian clothes, consisting of a suit, shoes, socks, rain coat, shirts, and one army battle dress, boots, shirts, and my red beret, a rail pass to my home town.
I was placed on the army reserve until Oct 1st 1947, when my discharge would come through. From 15/1/42 till Oct 1/1947 a period of 5 yrs and 10 months I served in the army, plus 2 yrs prior to that in the Home Guard, a total of 7 yrs and 10 months in uniform.
It is at this point I will go back in time to the date I married: 14th October 1944, at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire (after getting back from Arnhem) to a girl I had met after returning from leave just after Xmas 1943.
We had known each other for 10 months, and decided to get wed in case I had to go over to Japan. Marlene my first child was born in Feb 1946, while I was in Berlin.
On getting demobbed I returned home to Handsworth, Birmingham to my old job at Norton Motors and completed my Engineering Trade Certificate. The wages were very low at the time because the government had passed a law that you could return to your old job, and they had to employ you.
I was paid £5 (10) dollars per week, and from that I had to pay £1.10 shillings (3 dollars), leaving 7 dollars for light, heating and food. We were living in an upstairs bedsitting room.
As soon as I had my Trade Certificate I left and we moved to Lincolnshire, to my in-laws' home town. My father-in-law was a ganger on the railway (foreman) and he put in a good word for me and I started as a relief level crossing keeper.
I passed a signalling course and did some relief at the five level crossings in the area, giving the keepers who lived on the job some time off each week.
Maurice Bassett, Queensland, Australia, 2001
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