HAVING just joined the Royal Navy in 1953, now based in Scotland, five of us on our Mess Deck decided to hire a car in order to visit our various home addresses in December 1954.
Two of our number had driving licences, sharing the “Tiller”.
The car we found, a roomy Vauxhall saloon went nicely throughout but alas the tyres were a definite problem, obliging us to visit several garage repair shops at least 11 times.
Finally in Glasgow I managed to contact the duty Commander of our home base, to be instructed to return ASAP.
I didn’t elaborate on our problems on the telephone but bearing in min the wise advice from my mother regarding “keeping one’s receipts”.
Having eventually regained our Mess Deck, knowing that on the following morning we were all to stand in front of the Commander, on his report.
Standing with the Commander was a junior officer, to whom I handed a fat bundle of receipts for all those repairs we had suffered, together with a typed explanation of the days and dates involved.
At this point, the other officer, after a brief but thorough perusal, was heard to exclaim, “Good God Sir, Hard to believe, but 11 punctures in those few days”.
His superior took the bundle to scan the contents, remarking: “A wise decision indeed”.
Always indeed, Always retain your receipts.
His attitude changed.
“On this occasion I consider that you have all suffered enough!
“Each man One Day’s stoppage of leave and pay…Dismiss.”
One of the repair team owners had retired early to bed, but was phoned by his wife to learn that they had several Royal Navy lads with tyre problems.
He came downstairs with overalls and bobble hat and saved the day.
Plainly an ex-serviceman from the wartime. What a man.
God Bless him and his family.
Bert Fryer
Threshers
Crediton