The date was August, 1939. In just over three weeks my wage was due to double - leaping from £2 to £4 a week! What an exciting prospect. Soon I would complete my six years apprenticeship at the 'Northern Daily Telegraph', which I had joined on September 11th, 1933. Not only would I then become a fully-fledged journeyman-compositor, but I would have more money in my pocket.

At least that is what I anticipated. But this was not to be.

Before the month was out I was rudely awakened early in the morning by someone hammering on the front door. On going down-stairs I found a boy bearing a telegram. This instructed me to report to the barracks at Church (near Accrington, Lancashire), to join my Territorial colleagues in the 52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery, who had also been hurriedly summoned to prepare to serve their King and Country.

So, all because of a certain little man called Adolf Hitler, I missed the thrill of being handed that very big wage packet!

The telegram instructed me to report in battledress and with full kit at 0800 hours. Carrying my kit-bag over my shoulder I boarded the Blackburn to Accrington tram. I gave the conductor sixpence and said "Church, please." He handed me my ticket and change, which I slipped into my pocket.

It was not until much later in the day that I found the ticket and casually glanced at it prior to throwing it away. What a surprise I got, for it was only then that I realised that even though I was in uniform and with a kit-bag, the conductor had issued me with a WORKMAN'S RETURN ticket!

It was six-and-a-half years later before I again donned civilian clothing and I have often wondered if Blackburn Corporation Transport would have allowed me to make use of that ticket for the return tram ride from Church.

- Arthur Cope