White Family 1940's

This picture was taken in the back garden of "Abbey Lodge" in 1942. This was to be the last time the whole family were to be together in Battle until 1948 when my dad (Ivor) returned from the conflict in Palestine.

They were not to remain together for long however, for Graham and Joyce emigrated to Brisbane, Australia for the following four years. They were nominated by Great Gran's sister Polly who had settled in Australia many years before. (everone must have an Aunt Polly)

Ivor and his friend Bill Curtis, Gummersbach 1945

Percy

Ivor - on leave at Senlac Gardens

2622580 Cpl Graham White (centre) in front of a Churchill MKIV tank 1944

Grenadier Guards 9troop 2 Squadron

Graham's squad - 1941 Graham was in hospital so not in the photo

Graham and Joyce with Mike and Butch the dog

1000lb Bomb. Dropped at Brightling Park 1941

above - Prisoners of War Heinrich and Heinz at Senlac Gardens

VE Day - my dad was there - that's what he tells me

In 1941 the 8th Canadian Recce Battallion were stationed in the Abbey - this meant that I was issued with a Civilian pass to the Abbey

It was early December 1944 when the brown paper envelope dropped on our doormat at 13, Senlac Gardens, asking me to report, in my Home Guard uniform, to "The Guards Depot" at Caterham on the Hill in Surrey. I just thought they were just inviting me to Christmas Dinner, but when I arrived there, four days early, they gave me a brand new uniform and told me that I would be staying 'for the duration', whatever that meant. They said "The Sergeant Major will look after you like a Mother" but then they said that to all the other lads as well ! There were 20 of us including a "Trained Soldier" crammed into this wooden hut with a corrugated iron roof, with one cast-iron wood-burning stove in the centre. The "Trained Soldier" already had a screen around his bed in the corner and the rest of us fought for what we thought was the best bed space near the stove.

Home Guard 1942

I enrolled as a member of 22 Platoon, Battle Home Guard on the 29th January 1942.

I would shut up shop at the Cinema at about 10.30pm hurry home to change into my uniform, grab some sandwiches, and my gun, and report for duty at Home Guard Headquarters in Senlac House, opposite the Abbey Gateway by midnight, on every third night from 12 midnight until 6am. for a week, and then take a week off. At only 15yrs of age, and the youngest member of Battle Home Guard, I was occasionally called upon to patrol the Abbey Grounds during the night, and remember during one tour of duty helping to rescue an elderly (Dad's Army) volunteer who in the darkness fell into the famous Lily Pond. I was issued with the only (B.A.R) Browning automatic rifle in my Company and ten rounds of live ammunition which I kept at home ready for instant use at any time day or night. And, I became a Certified B.A.R Marksman by the time I reached 16.

Irish Guards 1944-48

Because in the Home Guard I had learned map-reading, orienteering, how to operate a two-way wireless set, (Able,Baker,Charlie,Dog,Easy,Fox . . . .it's all changed now), could fire several types of small-arms, including the Browning Automatic Rifle, and had thrown a few hand-grenades, they made me Squad-Leader and gave me a small "Stripe" to sew on my battle-dress. And so began my twelve weeks of isolation from the rest of the world, sleeping on boards, and shaving with cold water, while I too became a trained soldier.

Mrs Mabel White outside 13 Senlac Gardens

Territorial Army - 1948

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