12 December, 1943 (Route of the "?")

Route of the Question Mark

Page 18 from The Route of the Question Mark is transcribed below, describing how time was spent since arriving in the UK, and pinpointing Doddington Park, Nantwich, Cheshire as "Somewhere in England."

page 18

...Scotland and the Firth of Clyde... The band that played for us on the railway platform at Gourick, Scotland...  Thanksgiving Day, 1943, and our K ration meal on the train from Gourick to Crewe, England... Doddington Park... The fog... The rain... The darkness... The English winter, and the English blackout, which we scrupulously observed... The unpleasant mess hall... The one clear day at Doddington, when Capt SILVIS took us for a walk to observe the English countryside... Our first pubs: The Boar's Head at Doddington, and the Red Lion at Nantwich... The ATS Girls, and our first contact with the English... The dances at Crewe... "Roll Me Over In The Clover, Roll Me Over, Lay Me Down, And Do It Again"... Giving up our American money and receiving pounds, shillings, and pence for it... The reckless poker games that taught us the value of this currency...

Here are a few links to click on:

Doddington Hall in Doddington Park

Boar's Head Inn, Walgherten, Nantwich, Cheshire

The ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) Girls

The Red Lion, on Barony Road, was demolished for a care home.

As for the quoted tune, here are the full lyrics...

Now, this is number one
And the fun has just begun.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]
Roll me over, in the clover,
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

Now, this is number two,
And he's got me in a stew.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number three,
And his hand is on my knee.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number four,
And he's got me on the floor.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

CHORUS]

Now, this is number five,
And his hand is on my thigh.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number six,
And he's got me in a fix.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number seven,
And it's just like being in heaven.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number eight,
And the doctor's at the gate.
Roll me over, lay me down,
[CHORUS]

Now, this is number nine,
And the twins are doing fine.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number ten,
And he's started once again.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.