Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 14:39:48 GMT
John Gale Birmingham 1934
In 1934, I was 14 years old and working as a telegram messenger boy for the G.P.O. in Pinfold Street
I used to deliver telegrams on foot around the town and each journey was timed to the minute, When I was 16 years old I moved to Rolfe Street in Smethwick and was given a red push bike to use and then, after taking a test, I graduated to a Motor Bike.
I worked from 9am to 5pm with half an hour for lunch, for which I earned 10s -3d per week. If I did any overtime I earned 3d per hour, But only 1d for any odd half hours.
I used to give my mother all my wages and she would give me 1 shilling back, in 1939, I was called up into the Royal Corps of Signals as a Despatch Rider because of my motor cycling skills.
In 1940, I was posted to North Africa, but something went wrong with the boat and we ended up in Durban in South Africa , after many delays we were finally shipped back to the North African Desert and spent the next two and a half years chasing and being chased by Rommel’s Troops up and down the coast from Tripoli to El Alamain and back.
When I finally came back to England, I had been away five years, after four months leave I was packed off to Germany, I was finally demobbed in September 1946 and settle back to work as a postman at Birmingham Head Office.
I worked as a postman for 48 years and had 18 recorded dog bites in the official ‘Dog Book’
John Gale
(Recently passed away, but it was the wish of his widow that we should tell John’s tale)
Gladys Smith John's Sister
now living in Blackpool
Below - John Gale (centre) and his fellow messengers Birmingham 1936
In 1934, I was 14 years old and working as a telegram messenger boy for the G.P.O. in Pinfold Street
I used to deliver telegrams on foot around the town and each journey was timed to the minute, When I was 16 years old I moved to Rolfe Street in Smethwick and was given a red push bike to use and then, after taking a test, I graduated to a Motor Bike.
I worked from 9am to 5pm with half an hour for lunch, for which I earned 10s -3d per week. If I did any overtime I earned 3d per hour, But only 1d for any odd half hours.
I used to give my mother all my wages and she would give me 1 shilling back, in 1939, I was called up into the Royal Corps of Signals as a Despatch Rider because of my motor cycling skills.
In 1940, I was posted to North Africa, but something went wrong with the boat and we ended up in Durban in South Africa , after many delays we were finally shipped back to the North African Desert and spent the next two and a half years chasing and being chased by Rommel’s Troops up and down the coast from Tripoli to El Alamain and back.
When I finally came back to England, I had been away five years, after four months leave I was packed off to Germany, I was finally demobbed in September 1946 and settle back to work as a postman at Birmingham Head Office.
I worked as a postman for 48 years and had 18 recorded dog bites in the official ‘Dog Book’
John Gale
(Recently passed away, but it was the wish of his widow that we should tell John’s tale)
Gladys Smith John's Sister
now living in Blackpool
Below - John Gale (centre) and his fellow messengers Birmingham 1936