David Humber
Registered: January 2012 Posts: 202
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Mon August 12, 2013 22:38
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This is Thomson Road, the next road along from Grays Road. Our house was on the right hand side but I just could not get the angle to view it. These two photos were taken through the gap between padlocked gates and the gateposts. I believe the building at the very top of the road may have been a hospital or sick bay.
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Admin
Registered: January 2012 Posts: 537
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Tue August 13, 2013 00:53
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Many thanks David, great to have these photos!
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Marian
Registered: April 2012 Posts: 450
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Tue August 13, 2013 10:53
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Rating: 10.00
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I heard that Lawrence of Arabia was once stationed at RAF Uxbridge and went under the name of Aircraftsman Shaw. This would have been in the mid 30's probably. He was keen to be anonymous after all the publicity he had received and used to help out on the refuse lorries. This was before he joined the Army and went to Bovingdon in Dorset. Do you, David, or anyone have any more information about when he was at Uxbridge? The pictures are great, David. It must be sad to know you had once lived there and now the base is due for demolition.
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David Humber
Registered: January 2012 Posts: 202
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Tue August 13, 2013 15:51
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It must have been in the 1920's but I'm not sure precisely when. Uxbridge was the place where recruits were given their intial training, including square bashing. The parade ground was just inside the main entrance opposite Manor Waye. You might be interested to know that Lawrence described Uxbridge as a dreary market town. I wonder what he would make of it now?
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Marian
Registered: April 2012 Posts: 450
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Tue August 13, 2013 18:11
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Ah .. I have found that it was about 1922 when he joined the RAF and left in 1935. I can't find anything yet about him joining the Army afterward but, apparently, he went to Bovington near Wareham in Dorset in 1935 and not long after, he was killed in a motor-cycle accident. I went to see his cottage, Clouds Hill, which was where he retired to. He had a great love of classical music and seeing the huge, old gramophone and 78's record collection is something I remember well. Sorry this is a bit off-topic but one memory has led to another.
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Marian
Registered: April 2012 Posts: 450
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Tue August 13, 2013 18:22
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Back to the subject of Uxbridge and the RAF base, I have a very distant memory of seeing the men in their uniforms marching on the parade ground opposite Manor Waye. That's probably why I liked to sit upstairs on the bus, as a child, so I had a better view. Hope there are some more photos to come. Thankyou from Marian.
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Admin
Registered: January 2012 Posts: 537
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Tue August 13, 2013 22:31
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Drove past the base the other day and was struck at how quickly places start looking dilapidated once they fall into disuse.
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