Pte Oliver Charles James Rivers was called up for 2 years’ service as part of the 39 act Duration Extended Period of emergency (DEPE) in September 1947 aged 18 years.

He enlisted in Ipswich and reported to Blenheim Camp Bury St Edmunds for his General Service Corps (GSE) basic training. He was then posted to Colchester to join the Suffolk Regiment. Ollie remembered being at Roman Way and Meanee Barracks. He did his basic training at Cherry Tree assault course, Fingringhoe, and the Thetford Battle area.

In February 1948 after 2 weeks embarkation leave, he was posted to Greece due to their civil war. He sailed from Southampton on the troopship “SS Ontario” a 2 week sailing time, stopping at Gibraltar and Malta. When he arrived at Salonika, He joined the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment at Sobraon Barracks, part of 28 Inf Brigade 4 Division.. The war was in progress, It was terrible. After a while and due to the weaponry he used, he was sent to the British Military hospital in Salonika with damaged ears, a common problem in those days. Ollie was then sent on fieldcraft survival courses and then sailed to Egypt (Canal Zone) on the vessel “Empress of Australia”, calling at Famagusta Cyprus en route. He berthed at Port Fuad.

He stayed at 156 transit camp for 3 weeks. He was then sent by train to El Kantara and by road to Sander camp at Al Balagh. After 6 weeks here he returned to 156 transit camp for a further 3 weeks. After his extensive training he returned to Salonika on the “Empress of Australia”. He departed Salonika for southern Greece on “SS Adrias”, as part of the advance party of the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment.. He berthed at Piraeus and travelled via Athens to Aliki Camp Glyfada, now the new home of the regiment.

In October 1949 Ollie’s time was up and he sailed back to the UK on SS Empire Test arriving at Liverpool 2 weeks later. He got a train to Aldershot for demob. He finally arrived home in Felixstowe in late October. In 1951 Ollie was called again to the Colours on Z Reserve (Korean War crisis). He re-joined the Battalion and did training at Thetford. He was never called to go to Korea.

Before Ollie enlisted he was a milkman, on demob after the war he found it difficult to settle and had around 6 jobs. He finally got a job at Ransomes Ipswich (Engineering) and worked hard. He became number one machine setter and programmer and stayed for 31 years before being made redundant. (he quotes ‘Thanks Maggie’). He then worked for Best Products in Felixstowe as foreman. Ollie enjoyed photography and ship modelling.

Ollie passed on 1st January 2022 at the age of 94. A very honest and loyal gentleman. Sorely missed.

Ollie asked me to note the following Greek Civil War losses and damage: Lives 160,000 in all, army and civilians; cattle killed 114,754; sheep, pigs and poultry 1,365,315; damage 476 road bridges and 439 railway bridges; destroyed 80 railway stations which were burned, 24,000 houses totally destroyed and 22,000 partly destroyed.