I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety

Saturday 1 st January 1944 " Rang in the New Year well and truly on the ship’s bell. Nearly all the officers and ratings were in various stages of inebriation. The first lieutenant vainly trying to drink someone’s health from a bottle with the top still on. Foul taste in mouth this morning due to excess of port wine ." That's what my dad (Norman Buckle) wrote in his diary on New Year's Day 1944. He was stationed at H.M.S. Spurwing, the Royal Navy Air Base at Hastings, near Freetown in Sierra Leone, West Africa. He was nineteen years old. This photo was in Norman's collection; he hasn't made clear whether or not it's the New Year's Eve celebrations. Looks like it was a fun night though. Considering that high temperatures and humidity made a posting to Freetown very unpopular with services personnel they look like they're making the best of it!  Freetown was surrounded by malarial mangrove swamps and the humidity was so

October 15th is the first anniversary of the publication of I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II . I published the book exactly one year ago on the exact same date as my dad, Norman Buckle, joined the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in 1942. Seventy one years ago, World War II uprooted my father from a coal mining village in South Yorkshire and transported him thousands of miles to Sierra Leone in West Africa and later to a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean via Sydney, Australia. I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II is a short, annotated diary which records Norman's experiences and the on-going banalities of everyday life on a naval air-base far away from home. Since publication there have been over one thousand downloads of I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety and I've been overwhelmed by the interest the book has generated am

Seventy years ago, World War II uprooted my father from a coal mining village in South Yorkshire and transported him thousands of miles to Sierra Leone in West Africa and later to a tropical island in the Pacific. I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II is a short, annotated diary (approximately 22,000 words) which records his extraordinary experiences and the on-going banalities of everyday life on a naval air-base far away from home. This blog includes the collection of original photographs that go with my short e-book I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II.  They are in the October 2012 folder of the Blog Archive. If you would like to read I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II you can get a flavour of the book from the free sample on the Amazon site. Just follow one

My dad, Norman Buckle, was stationed at HMS Spurwing (Royal Navy air base at Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone) from October 1943 until November 1944. After a period of further training in the U.K he was sent in March 1945 to join the British Pacific Fleet. He was to be based at the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm base on Ponam Island, Admiralty Islands known as HMS Nabaron. In his photo book he placed a map of Australia and indicated the location of Ponam Island. Map of Australia showing th location of Ponam in the Admiralty Islands. Even though it doesn't look like it on this map, Ponam was over 2000 miles away from Australia.

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 

My dad, Norman Buckle, was at the Royal Navy air station known as H.M.S. Spurwing near Freetown, Sierra Leone from October 1943 until November 1944. H.M.S Spurwing was actually situated at the village of Hastings about 15 miles east of Freetown. His diary records several visits to Freetown. St George's Cathedral, Freetown, Sierra Leone  Un-named street in Freetown, Sierra Leone  Norman is standing at the back wearing the white hat.  Freetown, Sierra Leone Wilberforce Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone