I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety

In my book I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II, I explain that in 1945 my dad was sent to a naval air-base on Ponam Island in the Admiralty Islands (part of present day Papua New Guinea). He was  a member of MONAB 4. The MONABs were Mobile Naval Operating Air Bases which were needed to provide repair, maintenance and servicing for the aircraft used by the Fleet Air Arm on board the ships of the British Pacific Fleet. The plan was that there would be ten MONABs in total. Each MONAB was given an H.M.S name that began with " Nab " to reflect the NAB in MONAB. Norman was attached to MONAB 4. All the war-time MONABs were based in or near Sidney or Brisbane in Australia . The exception was MONAB 4 which was to be based in the Admiralty Islands over two thousand miles from Australia in the Pacific Ocean. MONAB 1 - R.N.A.S Nowra (approximately 99 miles south of Sidney , New South Wales , Australia

In my dad's service records it says that he finally left the Fleet Air Arm in July 1946 and his pension records show that he went back to his pre-war job as a clerk before starting a course of study at Bradford Technical College. This photo is dated September 1946 and was taken at Filey. There was a Butlin's holiday camp at Primrose Valley, Filey, Yorkshire so presumably he'd gone there for a holiday before starting college. Strange to think that his war service started at the Butlin's at Skegness. I wrote in  I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II that "on 15th October 1942 Norman had arrived at H.M.S Royal Arthur, a shore establishment of the Royal Navy at Skegness . Previously a Butlin's holiday camp it was commissioned as a training establishment in 1939 for new naval recruits. The holiday camp had opened in April 1936 and was the first of the camps designed by Billy Butlin to pro

In 1945, Norman Buckle was stationed at HMS Nabaron on Ponam Island (Admiralty Islands) as part of the support network for the British Pacific Fleet. Ponam Islanders, Admiralty Islands. Ponam Islanders, Admiralty Islands. Ponam Island Ponam Islanders, Admiralty Islands.

In his diary my dad, Norman Buckle, had some photos of his Fleet Air Arm colleagues which identifies his group as the support unit MSR6 (Maintenance, Storage and Reserve 6) of MONAB 4 (Mobile Naval Airbase) which was stationed on Ponam Island in the Pacific Ocean. The base was known as HMS Nabaron. From the air Ponam Island looked rather like an aircraft carrier and the American SeaBees (CB's - Construction Battalions) had built an airfield on it using crushed coral for the runway. It was handed over to the Royal Navy with all services including the airstrip, aircraft repair shops and storage for aircraft parts, petrol and oil storage tanks, a control tower, jeeps and trucks, huts for accommodation, an officers' mess, dining halls, a hospital, water de-salination plant and kitchens (including an ice-cream maker). The U.S Navy also left behind a forty strong team of SeaBees personnel to maintain the island and its facilities. Norman 's unit M.S.R.6 was attached to H

In his diary my dad, Norman Buckle, wrote: Saturday 22 nd April 1944 "A usual Saturday, enlivened by a display of tribal dancing at night. He then went on to write a detailed account of Tribal Dances given on “ Spurwing ” playing fields. HMS Spurwing was the Royal Navy air base at Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone where he was stationed from October 1943 until November 1944. The dancers were accompanied by bands of musicians from all around the area.  The Programme for the event.  The Programme for the event

Sometimes at HMS Spurwing (Royal Navy air station at Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone) there was entertainment provided by E.N.S.A but at other times they made their own entertainment. My dad wrote in his diary about preparations for a concert and despite his reservations it must have gone ahead because he had some photographs of the show. Friday 14 th April 1944 "Should have been dress rehearsal for concert at night but when we arrived at the Robangba Theatre found it occupied by a crowd of pissed up R.A.F chaps. Great difficulty in clearing them out but finally succeeded but the whole action made us so late that we didn’t finish until 23.30. Thursday 20 th April 1944 "Again seem to have got a day or two behind. Nothing much doing all day (as usual). Should have been a rehearsal in afternoon. But no-one turned up. As the entertainments officer, who is compering the show, has gone up country, perhaps it will die a natural death. I hope so anyway.

My dad wrote in the diary he kept while stationed at HMS Spurwing (Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone): Sunday 26 th March 1944 "No transport so failed to go bathing to Lumley – first Sunday for some weeks now. Spent day reading month old newspapers." Lumley Beach was a popular place for bathing. Lumley Beach The road to Lumley Beach  There was an open air swimming pool at the naval air station (HMS Spurwing) at Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone. The swimming pool at HMS Spurwing. Sports Day at the swimming pool, HMS Spurwing. The swimming pool at HMS Spurwing. Swimming pool at HMS Spurwing.

In his diary recording details of the time he was posted to the naval air base H.M.S. Spurwing, Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone, my dad wrote about a visit to a village called Marampa about sixty miles from the base. Sunday 6 th February 1944 Expedition to Marampa "For a week or two now we have been anticipating this trip and when we awoke about 06.00 everyone was as happy as kids going to a Sunday School treat. Breakfast was soon disposed of and by seven we were on our way with all the food and drinking water stowed away. Drinking water had to be taken in old beer bottles because of the unhealthy water up country. Needless to say a few bottles of beer had been saved also from the week’s ration. When we set off the sun had not risen and the morning was extremely cold. On reaching the main road we turned in the opposite direction to Freetown . As the road has a very good surface we ran along at a good speed and consequently got colder and colder. The road ra

My dad, Norman Buckle, was a Radio Mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy stationed at H.M.S. Spurwing, Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone from October 1943 until November 1944. This photograph of all the members of the Radio Section was taken sometime in June 1944.   Back Row: J. Ridgeway, A. Jones, N. Buckle, C. Perry, W. Rowlands Front Row: F. Knowlsden, G. Quick, S/Lr Mumby, D. Bell, A. Hutchinson  Names unknown 

My dad, Norman Buckle, wrote in his diary: Thursday 20 th January 1944 "Spent all day in redecorating the billet in readiness for the coming of the Admiral on Sunday. Distempered the inside cream and green and really made a good job of it. Sunday 23 rd January 1944 "Great excitement caused by the visit of Rear Admiral Peters who has just taken over the West African Command."  Guard of Honour  March past of ship's company. Flying crew Visit of Rear Admiral Peters; Norman is the tall man at the back of the group.

 Ordinary Telegrapher Norman Buckle aged 18 in 1942  Leading Radio Mechanic Norman Buckle aged 19 in 1943 Leading Radio Mechanic Norman Buckle aged 20 in 1944 Acting Petty Officer Norman Buckle aged twenty one in 1945 My dad, Norman Buckle, was eighteen and a half when he joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm in October 1942. He was trained as a Radio Mechanic and was promoted to the rank of Petty Officer (Acting) in June 1944.

H.M.S. Spurwing where my dad was stationed was established at the village of Hastings, near Freetown, in Sierra Leone. These photographs are all in and around Hastings. Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone. Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone. Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone. The road to Freetown from Hastings. The village of Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone.  The village of Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone.   The road to the naval air station at Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone.  The road into H.M.S. Spurwing Hastings Church Hastings Creek  Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone