A FEW months ago I joined the National Service (Royal Air Force) Association: the North Wales and Borders branch was formed in 2006 and is open to ex-National Servicemen, regulars, ex-WAAF and WRAF who served in the period 1939 to 1963.
I was called up for two years conscription in March 1952. My brothers, who were older than me, were exempt because of food shortages we had during and after the Second World War.
It is only during wartime or blockades and disputes that the government and general public realise and appreciate the enormous hard work and skills our farmers do for our country.
They are the backbone of our country.
On my first day of call-up I caught the train from St Asaph to Padgate, near Warrington, via Rhyl. On arrival I, along with many other new recruits, was ushered into a hut for a mug of tea.
Then we were lined up outside and drill instructor corporals rushed us at jogging pace to our billet, which was to be our home for a week before being moved on RAF Hednesford for eight weeks tough military training and ‘square bashing’.
That evening we were ordered to write home to our parents and friends to assure them we had arrived safely.
In addition to my parents I wrote to Mr and Mrs Ralph Humphreys of Prestatyn who were good friends of my parents.
A few days later Ralph wrote to the letters column of the Daily Post and I quote his words: “Sir - Can you imagine my feelings recently when reading Gwilym Roberts’ article about the scarcity of shepherds and the necessity of taxpayers’ money to be spent on teaching students at Llysfasi the art of shepherding.
“I received a letter from a farmer’s son who was taken into the Forces last week.”
He then quoted from my letter to him: “I arrived here this afternoon. I’ll get no sheepdogs here. I’ve got to rise at six o’clock tomorrow and do some scrubbing.”
Ralph’s letter continued: “This young fellow has been born and brought up on the farm. He is a shepherd and has an inborn talent for training sheepdogs that no college training will ever give.
“Last year he paid £20 for a dog in order to train it for work and trials. He is taken away during the busy lambing time, and his £20 savings to buy the dog is wasted (the dog will be too old for training in two years time).
“His father will have to leave his ploughing and cultivating now and again in order to attend to his flock.
“With such frustration can you expect a young fellow to have any zest for his old ‘cynefin’?
“I ask you is there any wonder that we are short of shepherds, short of lambs or short of food in this underfed land?”
Amid current talk of impending world shortages of food, I was reminded of Ralph’s letter written 56 years ago!
