John Edward Thomas, known as Jack to his friends and family, enlisted with the Territorial Army just after his 17th birthday in 1935. He attended a training camp at Redcar in 1936.
Jack was called up a year before war broke out despite having a reserved occupation with the railway. He spent the war in Tripoli, Egypt and Aden. At the end of the war he was pleased to hear he had a home posting but was very disappointed to find out it was to Northern Ireland.
When Jack eventually returned to Derby, life was anything but peaceful. He had to fight to regain his old job at the railway and his marriage ended as his wife had an affair with a soldier whilst Jack was away.
Later Jack met and married my mother, Joan, and they were happily married for many years.
By John Thomas
