IN just a few months the world will mark the 80th anniversary of the start of the Second World War.

And having also recently marked the events of the Normandy Landings 75 years ago thoughts are still very much with those who were there and experienced that time.

Historian Heather Johnson, from Colchester, has researched a number of stories but memories of her late father-in-law Felix Johnson are naturally hugely important to her.

She explains Felix, who died in 2013, was among the many men who enlisted with the Territorial Army in 1939.

She says: “Because successive British governments had allowed the country’s defences to run down, they were in a perilously poor state.

“However, with the Fascist regimes emerging in Germany and Italy, our government agreed to two measures to meet the possible threat to our country’s security - there would be conscription for men aged 20 and the doubling of the Territorial Army.”

Soon afterwards, Major C A C Turner visited local businesses including Colchester Town Hall where Felix worked, in a bid to recruit 200 men for its new 413 Battery.

She says: “After a month, the men received the first part of their kit, which consisted of battle dress and trousers, forage cap, socks and boots.

“Some of their Gun Drills, with imaginary guns, took place in Mumford’s old factory buildings in Culver Street, which had been empty for several years.

None of these buildings exist now – all having been demolished during the Hythe redevelopment.

With no special qualifications, Felix, originally from Halstead, became a loader of No 1 gun in B Troop.

“Those men who worked for Estate Agents became Surveyors; those employed by the Electricity Department became signallers; any who were able to drive became drivers; and the rest, apart from two or three picked for office duties, became gunners.”

The officer in charge of ‘B’ Troop was Captain George Perkins lived in Great Horkesley, where troop exercises often took place.

General mobilisation was announced on September 1 and the TA told to report to headquarters on Hythe Quay.

“Felix and others made their way down to a newly-acquired Drill Hall on Hythe Quay – a British Oil Cake Mills’ warehouse.

“Later, this was purchased by Frank Pertwee & Sons Ltd. Seed Merchants.

“The men’s first task was to construct Air Raid shelters, by digging trenches in the yard.

“Gun drills took place on Hythe Hill and gun practices took place at Wivenhoe Park and there were long route marches and, on Sundays, church parades to St. Leonard’s parish church on Hythe Hill.”

There were also tours of duty in London, guarding significant sites while the men were also stationed in Suffolk, for example Wetheringsett Manor in 1940, Norfolk where they were stationed at Mundesley Holiday Camp the following year and places in North Yorkshire.

On December 1942 Felix was transferred to the new Field Regiment, the 191st (Herts and Essex Yeomanry) Royal Artillery as quartermaster.

The D-Day Landings were the first time Felix and his comrades crossed the Channel for service abroad.

Since that time he has spoken at length about his experiences including his lost comrades and the shrapnel left in his body for the rest of his life.

His memories of that time also formed part of recent events to mark the 75 anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

The regiment then travelled through northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

On 2 December 1944, Felix’s regiment, the 191st (Herts. & Essex Yeomanry) Field Regt., R.A., was disbanded in Roosendaal, Holland. The next day, the regiment paraded there - with the Royal Artillery Band in attendance.

“It was a very moving experience - the streets of the town were lined with Dutch people, with whom the British regiment had built up a great rapport” says Heather.

Felix, who lived in Halstead Road in Colchester, was disbanded from the TA in 1946 and returned to Colchester and his job where he settled and spent the rest of his life.

But he never forgot his experiences, adds Heather.

Later that year the late restaurant owner Fred Jacklin invited all men who had served in the Essex Yeomanry and the 147 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery to a meeting and the Colchester Branch of the Regimental Association was founded.

Felix became Joint Treasure and was president in 1965/66. helping organise annual trips out domestically and to France.

His World War Two Memories of a Yeoman can be found online.