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 A drawing of the armoury in South End Green |
The gym where soldier Arthur learned to shoot
Veteran appeals for old pals to get in touch as he recalls Camden war memories
HIS wartime stories include trawling for souvenirs in Hitler’s death bunker and feeling his home quake when Gospel Oak primary school was blown up by a German sea mine.
Now, after a lifetime of service, Arthur Rowlinson is wondering if anyone remembers him.
The 86-year-old, who lived in Mansfield Road, said: “I found the poster of the armoury in South End Green and it reminded me about my time as a Royal Fusilier Cadet in Pond Street between 1938 and 1942. It’s a gym now I think but it used to be a real armoury. It had a 2.2 shooting range. When you walked into the hall there was a lovely stage to your left. We learned how to shoot a rifle. It was run by a Jewish chap who made his money importing cigars. Once a month we would march up to Church Row and we were also paid to sing for a rich lady in the Rosslyn Hill chapel.”
He added: “There’s so much fuss about soldiers’ equipment these days – but everything we had was second-hand. My boots had 1912 stamped on them.”
Mr Rowlinson, who moved to Colwyn Bay, Wales, around 40 years ago, began his military service in 1942. He travelled around the world with the army and later became a sergeant-major at the City of London army cadet force.
“My main memory of living in 115 Mansfield Road was when they dropped a bloody sea mine on the school,” he said. “I think they were aiming for the bridge, but it wiped the school out completely. I remember the ground shaking and some windows smashed, even in Mansfield Road. That must have been in 1941 or so.
“I think about 10 people died.”
By the end of the war in 1946, Mr Rowlinson was returning home through Berlin. He walked into the old Reich Chancellory building, above the bunker where Hitler shot himself.
“Me and this other lad, we got into the bunker.” he said, “We were looking for a souvenir.
“I remember going into the toilet but even the toilet chain had been pinched. In the end some Russian soldiers waved us away and you didn’t argue with them if you know what I mean.”
Mr Rowlinson went to Fleet Road School and Gospel Oak Methodist School. He address is: 21 Gadlas Road, Llysfaenm Colwyn Bay, North Wales, LL29 8TD. |
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