Learning A Trade 1944-1949 - Paperback

by Gordon Jr. Smith (Author)

My apprenticeship as a fitter and turner at the Newport Workshops from 1944 to 1949 were no ordinary years. World War II was in a critical stage, and the workshops were manufacturing a huge range of armaments, as well as keeping the VR railways running. This book is not only about my apprenticeship, but is a history of how Victorians coped with life, particularly during the war years of 1944 to 1945.

When the war ended in 1945, a campaign by the unions for a 40-hour workweek began almost immediately. This resulted in many strikes, during which the railway system was shut down. As an apprentice, I was not on strike, but like many other Victorians, I could not get to work. Because of this, I had to make up for the 38 days lost during my apprenticeship, extending it to 1949, when I finally completed my five years and became a tradesman fitter and turner. The 40-hour work week was eventually won in 1947. The war and strikes interrupted my apprenticeship, but through them I gained valuable lessons in politics, human relations and newspaper reporting.

During my apprenticeship, my weekends, holidays and annual leaves were very exciting times for me, hiking, and skiing with the Rover Scouts and Youth Hostels Association, which I felt were a very important adjunct to my apprenticeship, because I learned a number of extra skills, learning to ski and carpentry skills making a pair of skis.