Age Concern Dorchester - Dorset's Living Memories

A Purbeck man's war

Les Burt writes... 

I was born in 1921 at Belhuish Farm, West Lulworth, Dorset, which is in a remote valley on the northern boundary of Lulworth. At the age of four my family moved to East Knighton, near Winfrith, where I enjoyed a happy childhood with freedom boys desire. I attended Winfrith school from the age of four, and sang in the local choir from the age of ten until thirteen.

On leaving school at fourteen I worked on the farm at Winfrith Newburgh. This continued until one day after cycling to Warmwell aerodrome and observing the activities of the R.A.F. men, I decided that this was something I would like to do. After passing my entrants exam, I joined the  R.A.F. in January 1939, at the age of 17.

 My first few years of service were spent in southern England. In 1941 as a member of 151 Wing, I was posted to Vaenga (Murmansk), Northern Russia. The purpose of the mission was to assist the Russians in learning to fly and maintain the Hawker Hurricanes being supplied to their Air Force.

During this period the pilots also flew as Air Defence over Murmansk and were escorts to Russian Bombers against German forces. Our pilots destroyed fifteen enemy aircraft for the loss of one Sergeant Pilot. Friendships made have continued until the present day. After a successful mission, I returned with the rest of 151 Wing to the U.K. at the end of 1941.

I was stationed at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where I met my late wife. We were married in 1942, and shared sixty one happy years together – it really was ‘From Russia with Love.’

In 1945 I was posted to Norway. Having attained the rank of Sergeant, I was demobbed in 1946.