when a job was advertised for a junior artist to work doing design and page layout for Vernons Mail Order catalogue I applied and got the job.

The man in charge of the Studio was a Les Hinds and he increased my knowledge in design etc no end. The studio at Vernons was just one long room with windows down one side, and the artists had the window spaces . There was an office at the end of the studio and this was occupied by a Mr.Valentine, the studio manager, responsible for the production of the catalogue. When I joined Vernons the clouds of war were gathering and the government had started Conscription whereby anyone fit and over the age of 18 was called up to do ( I think ) eighteen months service in the army . If you volunteered to join the Territorial Army you became exempt from Conscription . I thought this was a good idea so that I didn't have a break in my art training and experience .

I joined a local Artillery unit, The 59th Medium Regiment, with a Drill Hall in Botanic Road . Their guns were from the 1914/18 war ! They were six inch Howitzers with steel- rimmed wheels ! We trained there twice a week, and I became a Specialist as soon as they knew I had studied Algebra and Geometry at school . Specialists were non-commissioned ranks who were trained as surveyors or command post staff or forward observation post staff. (They went forward with the attacking Infantry so that they could direct fire from their gun batteries to give support fire or to soften up the opposition prior to attacking. They were the eyes of the Artillery) . One of the skills required of the OP (observation post ) assistant was the ability to sketch the immediate landscape in front of the observation post. So I was an obvious candidate for the job . I believe the life expectancy in action for this job was four hours !

I remember very little about the training . The only thing I do remember was going to a week-end camp in Hawarden in North Wales and being kitted out with our Army Uniforms . The following day we went on a route march and the following morning I couldn't get my boots on because my feet had swollen, so the Quartermaster had to give me larger size boots.

I was doing well at Vernons and getting a lot of experience, in the evenings I used to go on long cycle rides to Southport or Warrington and at the week-ends I would go with a Cycling Club to places like Llandudno, Llangollen, Lake Bala or Buxton. Some evenings I would go to the Pavilion Theatre to see a Variety show . Sometimes on the weekend cycle trips we would do up 120 miles ! That's keeping fit for you !

My job at Vernons was going fine, and two days before the outbreak of World War Two my calling up notice for the T.A. came through the door whilst I was at work. The instructions were to report to the Barracks in Botanic Road as soon as possible . I went there as soon as I'd had my tea, and the following morning, the trucks and towing vehicles for the guns were on their way to Tattenhall, in Cheshire .
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