I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety

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

HMS Spurwing based at Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone. This is a photograph of the playing fields at H.M.S. Spurwing situated at the village of Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone. In his diary, in 1943, my dad wrote: "The first object that catches the eye is the range of mountains from which Sierra Leone takes its name ( Lion Mountain ). The reference to Lion is obscure as there is no visible resemblance, but a possible explanation is that the thunder in the rainy season is like a lion’s roar." Charlie Perry and Dick Treadway, Norman Buckle Norman Buckle is the tall chap on the right; the other two are Charlie Perry and Dick Treadway but it isn't clear from his diary which is which. They are standing outside their accommodation at H.M.S. Spurwing "Mess No. 4". Mess No. 4 This blurry photo is of the interior of "Mess No 4" which was where they were accommodated. Note the mosquito nets. Bathing facilities

 In 1943 when my dad was nineteen years old he was posted to a naval air station near Freetown in Sierra Leone. He wrote in his diary: "Sighted the African coast early in the morning and at 10.10 dropped anchor in Freetown harbour. The town looks very pretty with brightly coloured houses, the outstanding objects being a church and two wireless aerials. Behind the town to the left is the coastal range of hills." If you look closely at this photograph you can just see the church and the aerials. (The aerials are rather blurred but just about visible on the left side of the photo.) Freetown Harbour, Sierra Leone In his diary he went on: "Large numbers of canoes fill the harbour, some mere dug-outs but others quite decent boats. Freetown, Sierra Leone At 16.30 the launch arrives to take us ashore and our kit is unloaded by small boys." They travelled in a lorry to a village called Hastings about 15 miles east of Freetown to the naval

       H.M.S. Royal Arthur H.M.S. Royal Arthur was 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. Norman is standing at the left end of the next to back row as you look at the photo. From H.M.S Royal Arthur, Norman went to two more shore bases for further training to become a radio mechanic: H.M.S. Shrapnel (Walthamstow) and H.M.S. Ariel (Warrington).