Burma Star Association - B.C. Chapter
About mid 1943, 1 received a call from the R.A.F. headquarters at Digby Station. I was to appear before the adjutant of R.A.F. Station Cranwell. I was given a travel voucher, caught the bus early next morning, arriving at Cranwell two hours later. The bus pulled up, and I saw what I hadn't realized before. Cranwell, King's Air College, was immense. With manicured grounds, curved driveway; and the main building made of red brick partly covered in ivy, it al! looked like a huge British country home.
When I checked in at the guard house, I was given instructions on how to find the adjutant's office, where a clerk informed me that I wouldn't be required for my interview until the following morning at 0800 hours. He then gave me instructions on how to find my billet.
On settling in, I noticed there were several other Canadian airmen there, from other bases. After dinner, an R.A.F. airman stuck his head in the doorway and asked if we were going to the show at the station theatre. That sounded like a good idea. Imagine my surprise on entering the theatre to find a full‑sized beautiful movie house.
We had arrived early and the lights were still up. I noticed a section down front that was roped off. A few minutes later, a group of airmen, dressed in hospital blues, were led in to the roped off area. All the audience stood and started to clap their hands enthusiastically. Thinking this was group of wounded airmen, and that the audience was showing them respect, I stood and clapped. When they were all seated, the clapping stopped and we all sat down.
Wondering about these airman we had ,just honoured, in what I guessed was some tradition sacred to Cranwell, I asked the R.A.F. fellow seated next to me who these people were, dressed in hospital blues and ushered into a special section of the theatre. Noticing my R.C.A.F. badge, and realizing that I didn't know the routine, he off‑handedly informed me that they were in hospital for treatment of CLAP ! ! !.
Peter