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Bernard Skinner

Recollections of Army life and service abroad.

Called up for service

Bernard Skinner recalls the day he was called up for service.

http://www.memoriesofwar.org.uk/multimedia/Bernard_Skinner_01.mp3

Defending Sheffield

Bernard Skinner tells of the dangers on the Home Front.

http://www.memoriesofwar.org.uk/multimedia/Bernard_Skinner_02.mp3

Joining the territorials

For Bernard stepping up for the service and defence of one’s country was an obligation that he accepted readily.  At April 1939 at just 18 years of age Bernard volunteered to join the territorials. He recalls “We were anti-aircraft gunners for the whole of the Battle of Britain so we had a front row view of what was going on…”  In June 1940, the gravity of the threat of invasion meant that Bernard “had a dickens of a job” to get permission to go home – even though it was his own mother’s funeral.

Services abroad

As the threat of invasion diminished, Bernard travelled further afield and 1942 onwards found him in Durban, Egypt and eventually Italy.  For Bernard looking back he reflects that his service abroad was less onerous than he had experienced in Britain. He recalls “we - I wouldn’t say fought our way it was a relatively quiet war as far as I was concerned in – in the Gunners in Italy…we didn’t have a lot of action in the sense that people visualise but we were prepared for it. Most of the action we saw was at home before we left England…”

Bernard’s account of the latter phase of the war, what he describes as his story of “relaxation” includes some unexpected encounters, for example the time his unit was sent to Rome and received an invitation for an audience with the Pope. He also manages to attend an opera in Milan.

Returning home

After demobilisation, Bernard reunited with his brothers and sisters and took a job as a trainee chartered surveyor. Reflecting on how the war changed him, Bernard observes “I suppose it made an overgrown schoolboy into a grown man….I think we grew up very quickly.

Photo:Bernard Skinner pictured in his Army uniform.
Photo:A photograph of Bernard's family. Four of the five children served in the war.
Photo:One of Bernard's lifelong interests is cabinet making. In this photograph Bernard is pictured in his workshop.
Photo:A sketch of 'An Arabic Knife' by Bernard Skinner. The story of the Arabic knife can be found under 'Downloads' on the previous page.
Downloads

Interview with Bernard Skinner
Interview with Bernard Skinner (180k)
To read the full transcript of Bernard's interview please press the above link.

Bernard Skinner's recollections
Bernard Skinner's recollections (153k)
To read the full transcript of Bernard's recollections please press the above link.

Called up for service
Called up for service (93k)
Transcript of audio clip with Bernard Skinner.

Defending Sheffield
Defending Sheffield (56k)
Transcript of audio clip with Bernard Skinner.

The Story of the Arabic Knife
The Story of the Arabic Knife (22k)
To read more about Bernard's wartime experiences in his own words please press the above link.

This gallery was added by Emily Beaney on 10/03/2012.
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More about...
Contributors
  • Recollections of service life in the RAF.
  • Recollections of evacuation to Sayers Croft Camp
  • Recollections of childhood memories of wartime in Lane's End.
  • Recollections of Army life and service abroad.
  • Recollections of service in North Africa, Italy and Yugoslavia.
  • Recollections of memories of evacuation and life on the Home Front.
  • Memories of air raids on the Home Front and thoughts on remembering the war.
 
 
See also...
  • Recollections of the Armed Forces
 
 
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