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On 3rd September 1939 Britain declared war on Germany.
Just two weeks later, on 18th September my father, Patrick McElholm, enlisted in the Army Territorials (RAOC — Royal Army Ordinance Corps) at the Glasgow office; he was 20 years old. He was always very proud of the fact that he and his mates enlisted before getting their call-up papers. I think they saw it as a big adventure and a bit of excitement, also a way for them to see something of the world! His mother, of course, saw it very differently and was very upset; after all, she had already lost 6 out of 10 children either stillborn or in infancy and he was her only surviving son.
His army number was 7607372 and his trade on enlistment was a coppersmith.
Medals: Africa Star (8th army) and 1939-1945 medal.

Army: Territorial army (8th army in Egypt)
Division: 50th Tyne & Tees
Brigade: 150th/151st Infantry
He had basic training in England before embarking overseas as a member of the British Expeditionary Force on 7 January 1940, just a month before his 21st birthday.

My father was in a workshop unit, which supported the brigade (he was transferred to REME — Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from 1 October 1942). His main duties were recovering damaged vehicles, and salvaging radios and other equipment from vehicles which couldn’t be recovered. The workshop units were lightly armed. This was because in theory the supporting crew should never have been in contact with the enemy, but in reality, in the confusion of a retreat, the Germans bypassed the main lines and went around the back of the British units to come face to face with the supporting backup units.
This shows the incompatibility of planning and the realities of war.

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