From Joan Littlewood's Autobiography; 1940

Then Jimmie's call-up papers arrived.

I'd never been out of Salford town, the place where I was born
Until one day I joined the ranks and wore a uniform
But I'd rather never travel if the only way to see
The world is through the rifle sights of a Mark 4 303.

[See Trafford Road Ballad, Tune adapted from Eppie Morris. From the WMA Topic Songbook, 1951]

Soon he was turning out a song a day and it was obvious that the CO had no intention of letting him be transferred to a regiment which would offer some activity more fascinating than square bashing.

Jimmie wrote me every day, mostly jokes and nostalgia. It must have been disappointing for the police who were opening them all.