Arthur Leonard Spurrett

Arthur Spurrett, Royal Army Service Corps Driver T179541, served with Kent Auxiliary Units from their formation until stand down. He is recorded as being 5 foot 8 inches with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Peter Fleming and Michael Calvert moved into The Garth at the end of June 1940. They had been based at the Wellington Hotel, in Tunbridge Wells. They were accompanied by two RAF wireless operators and two RASC drivers who remained at The Garth until stand down in November 1944. One of the drivers was Arthur Leonard Spurrett.

“Alex Sommers and I were drivers with the Royal Army Service Corps based at Chertsey. In May 1940 we were based in Herne Bay. Four volunteers were required for special duties. We went to XII Corps HQ in Tunbridge Wells and waited a month for Captain Fleming to arrive. We then moved to The Garth in June 1940.

I remember Peter Fleming was a loner and very aloof, while Michael Calvert was very practical and led by example. We were given a civilian Rover, a Canadian Ford and an Army Humber. Fleming and Calvert were always on the go. A day could start at The Garth, then up to the War Office in London, then down to the Duke of York Camp at Dover, and then back to The Garth. We also picked up civilians from across Kent and brought them to The Garth. I also had to take personal messages and despatches to Coleshill, Swindon on my motorbike. Fleming once run down a sentry at The Spearpoint (Ashford) and broke his leg. He also crashed at Chester-Beatty’s house.

There were other soldiers based at The Garth for training and construction duties, including West Kents, Lovat Scouts and Royal Engineers. The Lovat Scouts were commanded by Peter Fleming’s brother, Robert Fleming. They were heavy drinkers and always fighting. There was some shooting incident in Ashford, I recall. I remember three Lovat Scouts – Wally MacDonald, Angus Mackenzie and John Norman. One of the other soldiers was Joe Wedge, a London hotelier. Fleming and Calvert left at the end of 1940 and subsequent officers were Captain Norman Field and Captain George McNicholl."

Mr Spurrett’s ID card for May 1943 – May 1944 is signed by Captain George McNicholl, Officer Commanding Auxiliary Units (Kent Area). His Soldier’s Service and Pay Book shows he was in Ashford from June 28, 1940. It contains signatures from Captain P. Fleming, Captain R. E. Fleming, Captain N. Field, 2nd Lt Doughty, 2nd Lt Gawley, and Captain D. Chester-Beatty, and others.

“In about 1943 a group of us were transferred to Wenman’s Cottage in the Cranbrook area which was a similar set up to The Garth. The West Kents built an operational base in Angley Wood. It was within a big bank. While at a dance in Goudhurst I met my future wife, Betty. We married in May 1945. After Stand Down in November 1944 I served in France, Belgium and Holland and as part of the occupation force in Germany in 1946.”

Arthur married Evelyn B. Perry in Maidstone in 1945.