4 Issue No. 41 One of the Original Rock Apes is soon to celebrate his 103rd birthday. Here is the story so far of Acting Sergeant Francis Allan Perry Born 26th of October 1922. Enlisted 1941 as a Ground Gunner transferred to RAF Regiment on its formation in 1942. Allan Perry joined as a Ground Gunner on 28th August 1941 and then the RAF Regiment (Founding Member) in 1942. Allan underwent training at Penarth (Wales) and Winton (Bournemouth). On completion of training Allan was posted to RAF Lintonon-Ouse. Later Allan sailed from Liverpool and joined 2908 Sqn situated between Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt. During his service Allan served in Palestine, Trans Jordan, Syria, Turkish border, Italy, Greece and Austria. Allan was demobbed on 31st December 1946 in the rank of Acting Sergeant. Decorations: Africa Star / Italy Star / 1939 – 1945 Star / 1939 – 1945 Defence Medal / 1939 – 1945 War Medal / 1941 – 1945 Greece Medal. The following are extracts of Allan’s memories whilst serving: “Although it wasn’t until August 1941 that I received my Calling Up papers and to report to Salisbury the 28th of August, catching the 8 o’clock train. By midmorning with many other men we boarded a train for Penarth in S. Wales taking with us our shaving gear etc. Also, a large No Living Rock Can Call This Man A Sprog piece of brown paper and some string to send your civilian clothes home. We were brought together late afternoon and sworn in and therefore became members of the RAF. A visit to the dentist ensured that I lost a tooth. All monies were sorted, allowance made home and at Pay Parade I received the sum of ten shillings” It was time to throw live grenades down the cliff face from a sandbagged area. There were two boxed areas next to each other. The fellow in the next bay, being his turn pulled the pin, slightly over balanced and caught his hand on the sandbag parapet which made him release the grenade and it started to roll along the sandbags. The Sgt Instructor dived forward, flipped the grenade over the side and shouted: “DOWN!” The grenade exploded a third of the way down the cliff face. It was some time before any of us threw a grenade until we that were left to throw went through the actions once again. Every Saturday morning, we paraded as normal. The usual ritual of picking out men for overseas duties. This first Saturday in the New Year saw four of my mates called out. One of whom was a married man from Norwich and had children. After all was finished, I asked permission to speak to my married mate and said to him; “You stay, and I will take your place.” It was agreed with the WO in charge and so I took his place. We were paraded outside the Medical Centre and told “Tunics off, shirt sleeves rolled up, hands on hips.” You walked forward to the Medical Orderlies where one would inject in your left arm, the other in the right. 100% in each arm. At six o’clock the ship moved out and started its journey, which we found out was going north without an escort. Days later saw us nearing land. Landing at Port Tewfik we were soon entrained and made our way to a transit camp before being posted. The date 2nd April so it has taken us from the17th February to get here. Most of the time here spent on fatigues, bathfulls of potatoes to peel all day long. Almost a week had gone when a CPL called nine of us together and said “You are posted to 251 Ames located between Alexandra and Cairo to join the newly formed 2908 Field Squadron RAF Regiment. You take a train to Armarea where you will be picked up by a lorry from 251 Ames.” Sorting out the kit and exchanging names, we found we all came from the West Country: George Pike from Plymouth, Ken Aggett Exeter, Bill Latham Barnstaple, Devon, myself from Yeovil, Thomas from Charlton Musgrove. We from Somerset and Ted Collard from Cardiff, William Beynon Swansea, Dai Davies Merthyr Tydfil and Thomas. “Palestine - We eight gunners kept everything up to readiness. It was August before the raids started to become fewer although one night a German aircraft dropped a large flare. It lit up everything for miles around. The outer case was found almost a mile away. Another night which we thought would be quiet had us going outside the camp searching for possible German paratroops. The message was a German transport carrying troops passed a Wellington bomber flying east. Stand down came six hours later. The only incident 2908 Sqn in Greece IWM – CNA4660 Cpl Allan Perry
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