Peter Clark Recorded by Ray Freeman c1980’s

Track 1. Born in Dittisham in 1925 where he lived until he joined the RAF in 1943 at the age of 18.

Talks about Dittisham before WWII, Holiday craft on the river, Ditsum Plums, Banana boats in the river, P & O ships at Dartmouth, Fishing in the river. Schooling at Totnes & Dartmouth & difficulties in travelling

Outbreak of War. Evacuees. Belgian refugees & fishing boats in Brixham. ME109 attack on barge near Galampton. Raid on Noss Works- 8 Ditsum boys killed.

Worked as a junior clerk after leaving school in 1941, sent out to ships coming in to Dartmouth to take orders for supplies, send messages etc. Convoys came in the evenings & left next morning. Motor launches built at Galmpton. Barrage balloons on ships. Attacks on shipping in the harbour.

Period leading up to D-Day, ships in the river from Dittisham to Dartmouth. Battering with American ships- fresh food. Cigarettes etc. Sir Henry Martin – Air raid warden, First aid lectures.