The following information has been extracted from
pages 189 - 191 in Chapter 12 of my book,
"Peerless Powditch's", Vol 3, 'Norfolk Vacated' (1989)
- the Chapter of which is accessible on this website, by clicking
Raymond Urban Powditch Notes
Raymond Urban Powditch (Wells' eldest son) at the outbreak of the Second World War,
enlisted as a volunteer, to "serve the King and Duke of Normandy". Not long afterwards, due
to his pre-war Engineering experience, he was drafted into the R.A.O.C. (Royal Army
Ordinance Corp), in which he served as Armament Artificer (Guns), and went with the Corp. to
England, on 17 October 1939.
Between his arrival in England in the mid-October of 1939, and 29 December the same year,
Raymond underwent military training - after which, he was posted to 10th Army Field
Workshop, Portslade, Sussex.
5 April 1940 saw the "Workshop" joining the 51st Highland Division; the crossing of the
English Channel, to France; the movement across France to Metz - being involved along the
way, in several incidents of bombing, etc.; and the arrival, twenty-three days later, on 28 April,
at Metz - not far from the German border.
Within 10 days of his arrival at Metz, Raymond was on his way back to England - this time on
a stretcher ! - after having succumbed, on 8 May to a torn cartilage in his right knee, and by
14 May 1940, the hospital ship, "Maid of Kent" had left the French coastal harbour of Dieppe,
with him on board.
Following Raymond's discharge from Alder Hey hospital, on 5 July 1940, he was posted to
several Workshops, before finally being posted, on 14 May 1941, to 53rd Welch Division,
Co.Down, Northern Ireland.   Towards the end of 1941, in November of that year, the 53rd
Welch - the red bardic-crown depicted on their badge - returned to England
Two months later, on 26 January 1942, Raymond was posted, as a Sergeant, to 1st Division
Workshops, (R.A.O.C.), East Dereham, Norfolk - where the Commanding Officer was Colonel
Raymond Vernon Powditch !
For a reason that is still a mystery to Raymond Urban, Colonel Powditch promptly demoted
the newcomer, from Sergeant to Corporal !   Contact however with his previous C.O., and
Sergeant Major, resulted in Raymond Urban returning to his previous unit, on 25 February
1942 - just one month after his arrival at East Dereham - and his re-instatement as
Sergeant.
Following his return to the 53rd Welch Division, in February 1942, and during the period up to
August 1943, Raymond was to experience frequent manoeuvres in the preparation for
"D-Day".   His next "move", on 6 August 1943, saw the "medically categorised" Raymond
being posted from the 53rd Welch Division, to Egypt.
In 1943, the R.E.M.E., (Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers) was formed, and Raymond
Urban Powditch became part of its history. As in the R.A.O.C., he was still Involved in
servicing guns, but now was also a "fitter in the workshops".
In Egypt, Raymond's position was W.O.II (A.Q.M.S.) - interpreted as "Warrant Officer Class 2.
Armament Quarter-Master Sergeant" (Warrant Officer Class 1 was a Regimental Sergeant
Major, and Raymond considered himself to be the Deputy Sergeant Major !). As a reminder
of his days in Egypt, Raymond has a Certificate of Merit from the C-in-C. Middle East Force,
signed by General Sir Bernard Pagett.
Throughout the war years, from his being a volunteer in 1939, to the end of the war in 1945,
Raymond kept a "war diary", from which he is able to re-live his whereabouts over the 6 year
period.
Raymond Urban Powditch died on 15 September 2004, in his 90th year.