Joe Hoadley shares an extensive account of his service as a Driver/Anti-tank troop in the Reconnaissance Corps during WWII.

His early contributions to the war effort began at the young age of 15, acting as a messenger for both the ARP and the NFS. In 1942, he was working at a cement factory when he first received the call to join the army but in actuality, he was only to be held in reserve. This misunderstanding led to a heated argument with his superiors. Eventually, Joe received another call and was finally able to leave and begin his training in Canterbury.

During his training, he was sent to the B squadron attached to the Reconnaissance Corps, first commissioned by Winston Churchill in 1941. He spent much of his time travelling the UK, learning how to use guns and drive vehicles in preparation for battle. Unfortunately, it would take over two years before the B squadron was finally sent over the channel, the troops since beset by restlessness.

Joe recalls being in France after the D-Day attacks, driving the Brett Gun Carrier while avoiding many deadly traps placed by enemy forces. They travelled past many key sites in Europe, including the Albert Canal, acting as the natural line of defence for France and Belgium against the Nazis. He also shares a funny story about an accident involving a blackberry pie and the confusion that followed.

Despite their best efforts, Joe’s course was eventually halted, ambushed by Germans who took him prisoner. He arrived at one of the many prison camps, detailing the pros and cons of the conditions and the process in which each prisoner was interrogated. As part of the Geneva Convention, soldiers were only allowed to give their name, rank and serial number. However, sometimes they were deceived into giving more information than they should have.

Joe’s day of liberation came outside of camp during one of his outdoor labours. He remembers revisiting it with the men who freed him, witnessing the wreckage they had left behind. It reminded Joe of how luck had served him on many occasions during the war.

Joe’s interview captures some of the salient events near the end of WWII, the perspectives of those who arrived late to the conflict and the conditions one faces when becoming a prisoner of war.