BACK
 The amount of aircraft activity during the night and at dawn, gliders being towed southward had indicated something special was on. It all pieced together now. The 8th American Airbourne disappeared two weeks ago. No news had been received from them (much to the disgust of girl friends). Our own production drive on 'Mercury' engines, which were found to be just the job in planes towing gliders.

 Walking back to the Hostels after day shift with a couple of chaps who had been discharged unfit from the forces, it was easy to see their disappointment at not being with their old comrades. Both felt the disability they suffered shouldn't have excluded them from taking part. As the war progressed quite a number of men with slight physical disabilities were returned to industry. More so if they had special trade qualifications. After Dunkirk, there was a long period of military stalemate. Thousands of skilled men were released to expand production to replace the arms and equipment lost in France and Belgium.

 With the country steadily being demuded of troops, the Home-Guard took over home defence. At times I turned out with the Works Detachment, a Company of Worcesters in its own right, acting as medic on bombing practice. These manoeuvres always finished at a pub, with at least1 hrs boozing time, I sat in the coach, not very patiently.

 The War was coming to an end. Over by Christmas was on everyone's mind. It dragged on. The powers that be who decide such things must have considered that production was assured. Some of my younger men between 30 and 40 years old, who had worked at Rover throughout the War were called up. Manpower in the forces was more important than in Industry. I lost some of my best men despite my pleas to the National Service Officer that it would seriously effect my production targets. His "I've got to have them" was an end to it. Foremen regularly met the N.S.O. to press for retention of some of his Staff. We would go through the list one by one. The expression, "With a Toothcomb" just about fits.

 Who spoke for me, I shall never know. Obviously someone had to. We were all 'tagged' Numbered according to trade qualifications etc. There were three sections, It was late in the War I discovered my position was No.1 in each. The highest category possible. War does funny things with people. Is it that it provides the opportunity for us to break out of the 'Rut' that all the time we were just waiting for the chance. Would life in peace-time ever be the same again?.

 This was the period when my labour replacement included three who bordered or the mentally deficient. By the end my Department was composed of 90% unfit men, older men. and women trained to cover the many jobs. A challenge shop personnel accepted and conquered. We made it as a team, or should it be teams - we were constantly changing, especially the last eighteen months.

 Winter dragged on to early spring. Political strategy was taking over. We had a new arrival at the Hostel. A German Professor, who had been picked up from Germany by plane and brought here to a good hide-out. Behind it all was to try to form some sort of political understanding and contacts within Germany ready for when the military campain was finished. A typical German Professor of the films. Thick necked, peering through thick glasses. Too full of apologies for his countrymen's behaviour. He blamed it on the Prussians who had (He said) used Hitler to gain their own ends. He spoke excellent English, gave us a few very good talks on events that led up to the war. I Wonder who he really was. He disappeared in April. Back in Germany I guess.

 V.E. Day was a mix-up. Rumours had been flying around for a couple of days. Nothing official had come by way of works Tannoy. Then on the 7o' clock news at breakfast time - General Montgomery had received the German surrender. Followed by the National Anthem. Angry voices and a scuffle broke out at one of the tables. Everyone had stood up except this one chap. A bloke nearby bashed him in the face. By the time the Anthem had finished tempers had cooled. There had been animosity mostly of a political nature between these two. The aggressive one was a 'True Blue' with forthright opinions. The other just as extreme on the left. Trades Unionism and labour politics grew at a tremendous pace during the war. The 1945 election proved it so.

 It takes a lot of courage to stand up against it. Especially at Factory Meetings. This bloke did - a lone voice - booed and shouted down. I never liked it, my sympathies were on the questioners side, however misguided I think he may have been.

 The War in Europe was over. What now? Have we got to go into work? Nobody seemed to know. Then, instructions came from the works. Transport will be laid on to the nearest Railway Station. Come back in three days. Jubilent workers, especially those directed to work here who now had visions of an early return home. Bags were packed in record time. Back Home.

 Street parties were quickly organised, despite rationing the tables looked good. Highters Heath Estate followed the pattern. Highers Heath Lane had a party for the children and in the evening a sing song with plenty of beer in Morris's garage. It was packed to suffocation with happy singing neighbours.

 I was put in charge of the Beer Barrel, being a T.T. the only one they could trust with such a responsibility. The old saying "A good time was had by all" fitted aptly. Nell and me appreciated being invited to join our old friends and neighbours in the celebrations.

 The three days went like lightening. Back to the Tunnels and Aero engines. Production as usual was the order, with the emphasis that the War wasn't over until Japan had been defeated. True, but we all knew that production on the scale we knew it wouldn't be necessary any more.

CONTINUED