Jim Hutchings on an elephant, India, 1940s
Item Reference : cny03692

Description

Jim Hutchings's Second World War experiences began in West Kirby, Liverpool, where he embarked on the troopship 'Empress of Russia'. After five weeks at sea, they sailed into Freetown, Sierra Leone, and then went on to Capetown, and finally Durban. He bought a Voigtlander camera for ten shillings - a bargain as the shopkeeper was finding it difficult to sell German-made merchandise. From then on Jim took photographs wherever he went. From South Africa, Jim sailed to India aboard the Mooltan, a troop carrier with bunks stacked five high. As mechanics, he and his unit spent some time salvaging bombed or broken down vehicles and aircraft. They would strip them of every useable part, as spares could be impossible to get hold of. Jim finally returned home in 1946.

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