Ben Davis, miller at New Hall Mill from 1946-1993

Thomas Ben Davis, known as Ben, was born in Much Wenlock on 8th December 1910. Ben's father Charles Davis took over the tenancy of New Hall Mill in 1929. Charles was 53 then - quite an age to take up such a demanding new career. He may have had staff to help him, and he probably hoped that Ben would soon take over the Mill, but Ben already had his own career as a motor driver, fitter and turner.

Ben's Enlistment

Ben enlisted in the Territorial Army in Birmingham on 19th Sep 1939. He joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps for the duration of the War. This became REME in 1942 (the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). His Army service number was 7607538, and his rank was Private.

Ben's Army service records tell us that he was 28 years old, 5ft 9¾in tall, weighing 149lbs. His chest was 39½ins with 3½ins expansion. He had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, and fair hair. He was Church of England.

Ben's Initial Training Sep-Nov 1939

On 19th September 1939, at Hilsea Barracks, Portsmouth, Ben passed the trade test as a Fitter, Group E (the lowest trade level which included jobs like Engine Hand and Stoker), Class III (trained to be able to work under supervision).

Fitters were primarily responsible for the maintenance and repair of the guns used in anti-aircraft defense. This included tasks like maintaining and repairing the guns themselves, as well as the associated fire control and aiming equipment, and the vehicles that transported the guns. You can see an image of the kind of guns he repaired and maintained here:

Initially, Ben served in Britain, his first posting being on 4th October 1939, to No 1 Base Ordnance Workshop at Woolwich Arsenal, London. Two days later, on 6th October 1939, he was sent to No 3 Ordnance Workshop Company at Hilsea Barracks, Portsmouth. Then, on 21st October 1939, he was posted to the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade Workshops in Kinnegar, Northern Ireland.

Ben's Service in France Nov 1939 - May 1940

On 14th November 1939, Ben's unit of the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade was sent to France to defend the lines of communication of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). He was probably deployed around the port of Le Havre.

Promotion

On 8th April 1940, Ben was reclassified as Group A (Fitter) Class II (able to work without supervision).

Evacuation from France - 1940

Ben came back from the France on 29th May 1940, which was during Operation Cycle, an evacuation which took place at the same time as the evacuation of Dunkirk (27th May to 4th June), but further to the west.

Anti-Aircraft Workshops - 1940-1941

On his return to Britain, Ben was posted to the 209th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Training Regiment. On 24th June 1940 he was posted to the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade Workshop, then on 3rd July 1940 there was a re-organisation of the Brigade and he was posted to the 2nd Training Battalion in Nottingham. From there, on 6th July 1940 he was attached to the 2nd Anti-Aircraft Divisional Workshop Company. On 24th August 194o he was moved to the 57th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Workshop Section.

On 27th March 1941 Ben was transferred to the Y List - a permitted temporarily absence from his regiment. The reason is not recorded, but it may have been leave or illness. On 18th April 1941, Ben was moved to the 56th Section.

On 28th April 1941, Ben was posted to the Mobile Centre of the RAOC (22nd Ordnance Workshop) and prepared for embarkation.

2 Base Ordnance Workshop Tel-el-Kebir 1941-1943

On 1st June 1941, Ben sailed for Egypt, and was transferred to No. 2 Base Ordnance Workshop in Tel-el-Kebir. This was a significant military location for the British forces, particularly as a major hospital center and an ordnance depot. REME archives state, "The workshop was responsible for vehicle modification, particularly for desert conditions, and repair. Due to its location near the Suez Canal and Port Said, 2 Base Workshop worked on many of the vehicles arriving in Egypt."

There is a good film of a similar RAOC unit in North Africa here. This was No 2 Sub-Workshop, No 4 Base Ordnance Workshop.

Promotion

Ben was promoted to Acting/Verbal Lance Corporal on 8th December 1941, then on 19th December this was upgraded to Acting/Verbal Corporal. On 30th Jan 1942 this rank was confirmed as Warrant/Subordinate Corporal. He remained at this rank for the rest of his service career.

Illness?

Several times in this period Ben was recorded as "X List II". This refers to a category of soldiers who were temporarily unavailable for active duty due to being admitted to a hospital or evacuated on medical grounds. The first time this happened was 10th Feb 1942. On 24th Feb 1942 Ben was admitted to hospital and was discharged 4 days later. He was back in the 27th General Hospital in March. There were more X List II records in August 1942, and August 1943 (in hospital) - unfortunately his documents give no details.

17 Workshop 1943-1944

On 1st Nov 1943 Ben was transferred to No. 17 Workshop.

Medals

In June 1944 Ben was awarded the War Medal 1939–1945, and the Africa Star (for operational service in North Africa including Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Abyssinia, Sudan, Eritrea, the Somalilands and Malta).

Eritrea Workshop 1944-1945

On 14 Aug 1944, Ben was moved from Suez to Port Sudan, and on 1st September 1944 he was posted to Eritrea Workshop. Eritrea was under British Military Administration following its liberation from Italian rule in 1941, and the Sudan Defence Force (SDF) were there to defend British interests. During this period, there was debate about Eritrea's future and its proposed annexation to Sudan. In the absence of agreement amongst the Allies concerning the status of Eritrea, British administration continued until 1950. In the meantime it was another significant base for Allied operations in North Africa.

Ben had now remained in the Middle East for over 4 years. In July 1945 he was transferred to Base Depot in preparation for evacuation to Britain, and he was Struck off Strength on 4th August. On 19th August 1945 he was allocated code 'Python' - the code name for posting home troops that had done four years or more abroad.

Britain 1945

Ben landed in the UK on 19th August 1945 and was allocated to a REME Holding and Mobile Centre. In September he was posted to No 8 Central Workshop at Chilwell, near Nottingham. His final change was to 5 Vehicle Group in Royston in September 1945. This may have been for retraining, or he may have been starting to train others.

On 19th October he was given Release Leave, then on 14th December he was awarded additional Overseas Leave. He was finally discharged to the Army Reserve on 9th Feb 1946.

We don't know exactly when he returned to the Mill, but in 1973 he said he took over "nearly 30 years ago", so it was probably immediately on his release from service.

After the war

After the war Ben's main job was at Hams Hall power station electric generating company - the mill was only a part time occupation.

In 1948 Ben married Eva Winifred Randall, known as Winnie. They never had children.

Jim Owen (of Rubery Owen) remembers Ben as a bandy legged elderly man, going for walks with an army-style beret on his head, his dogs always beside him. (You can see him wearing his trademark beret in the photo below). He always hand dug the vegetable garden and produced a great assortment of vegetables, depending on the time of the year. His whole approach was to make himself as self sufficient as possible.

Ben remained at the Mill until his death in 1993, remaining very active almost to the end.

We believe that his widow, Winnie, suffered from arthritis, and that this picture shows her at an Arthritis Care Christmas event in Sutton Coldfield in 1986.

Winnie lived the last years of her life at Beech Hill Grange care home. She was remembered by Freda Turk, who cared for her there, as a gentle, caring lady.

Notes

Research by Sheridan Parsons