WITH strife-torn Sierra Leone so much in the headlines recently, it has brought memories flooding back for Denis Woods of his own soldiering days out there. He was a member of the Royal West African Frontier Force, operating around Freetown and up in the bush where the recent hostage-taking by rebels occurred.

But there is a lighter side to Denis's wartime recollections.

"I was sent out in 1940-41 to renovate communications and build new telephone routes radiating from Freetown up to the bush.

"Just imagine," adds Denis (79) of Wythburn Crescent, Clinkham Wood, "when getting off a troopship, the first thing we saw on the landing-stage was a load of cable drums from BICC at Prescot. It brought a lump to my throat."

Recent TV reports from that part of Africa said there was no telephone communication to Freetown from the rebels. "That could mean that there had been a new influx of 'jewellery' around the villages," guesses Denis, who recalls how miles of copper wire had been cut down from the lines he had set up. It was stolen to make bangles and ear-rings from.

Denis had some good comrades out there and he often wonders in particular whether Bill Harrison, an old buddy from St Helens, is still knocking about. He served with 119 Line Section (Royal Signals) and married and German girl from Hamburg.

If he's out there, Denis would love to hear from Bill.

The eclipse of last month turned out to be a wet squib for most of us - with its impact up North little more than that of a passing cloud - but Denis experienced a truly spectacular one in 1941 when stationed at a place called Signal Hill.

The troops had to pin up native-language warnings that this was a natural phenomenon and nothing to do with 'white man's ju-ju.' Denis recalls the thrill of excitement when the heat left the earth as the moon passed across the sun. "There was a strange silence at first, then cries of woe from natives, followed by complete relief when it was all over. It was a magical moment for me."

THANKS Denis, for sharing it with us.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.