National Service

THE ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORP.
Immediately after the New Year I was off on a train to Aldershot, the army collected us from the station and taken straight to Blenhiem Barracks. On arrival we were given a large mug of tea then numerous forms to fill out. We were next allotted a bed, a locker, and then sent to collect our gear, kit, clothing, blankets etc. This was all done in platoon groups. The Quarter Master would look at each man and order B.D.size, trousers size boots, vest pants, shirts, socks, beret and overcoat. All were piled onto your outstretched hands. Webbing, big and small packs, and a kit bag. A sergeant out side the door would point you in the right direction for your billet because you were unable to see owing to the pile of equipment in front of you. After clothing there were sheets and blankets. By this time the afternoon was gone and we were now marched to the cookhouse for a six o’clock meal then we were marched back again. With our own mug knife fork and spoon clenched in our left hand which was positioned on our hip while swinging the right to waist height as we marched. The rest of the evening was taken up with getting everything into military fashion. Including us. Before lights out there was a rumour about being terffed out of bed in the morning. The soldier sleeping near the door vowed it would not happen to him so he stood a stool up against the door to give him news of the sergeants’ arrival in the morning. When the stool went down with a bang and the sergeant fell into the room he was not very pleased and promptly turned the first three beds strait over on the floor occupants with them. “Yelling get your feet on the floor”. After washing and shaving then breakfast and making up the beds the next thing was to prepare for parade. The rest of the morning was taken up with square bashing, then lunch, and then more drill. Everywhere we were marched. To the barbers shop to be shorn, etc, etc. At the end of the week we had a passing out parade. The next stage was a move to Badagos barracks for 16 weeks occupational training. this meant, more square bashing and office routines and typing, practice firing rifles and sten guns.

OUR PRIVATE DRILL INSTRUCTOR.
Badagos barracks was two Guards blocks which faced one another across the barrack road they were about six floors high on one side was the cookhouse on the other was the sergeant majors office and other staff offices, there were about twenty rooms on each floor and about twenty beds in each room. The rooms had a long balcony at the front with metal staircase at each end. The rear of each room looked out onto the parade ground. On the first morning after breakfast I stood on the balcony waiting for my squad number to be called out I must have missed it, so proceeded down to the road to ask! And was told they were already gone to the Q.M stores to draw denims and rifles, I hurried to catch up and although avoiding punishment was in serious trouble, with the private instructor who was already in a bad mood doing a job which he was not getting paid for. He leaned on me all day long and in the evening I had to appear in front of him with a clean rifle, as he had my rifle barrel was full of rust and shit.

THE STEN GUN.
The rifle range was another cause of disquiet. The weapons instructor. Drilled us for two days in the use of the sten gun which could also fire single shots but was liable to let fly with twenty five rounds at one press of the trigger if the button was depressed, or left in the depressed position. The weapon was also liable to jam. In the event of a jam the weapon was to be placed on the ground pointing down the range: raising your hand to draw the attention of the officer who would attend to the jammed gun. One of the conscripts in the squad in front of us had a jam and turned around with the sten at waist height shouting for help. He could have killed us all. A 2nd lieutenant and another instructor knocked him straight to the ground taking the weapon from him. He was immediately escorted to the Guardroom to be charged with disobeying a lawful order. The cookhouse was a noisy place there was always shouting and a yelling! Going on all through our meals new squads were ushered in to adjoining tables. After the meal there was always a tap with hot running water to wash our plates and utensils under. At our first platoon meeting we were asked for suggestions and for complaints: one barrack room lawyer said he did not see why we should be subject to the continuous noise at meals; it had nothing to do with discipline, and was not condusive to proper digestion. This was put forward and in fact for the next day or two quietness prevailed but not for long, in a week things were back to normal, by this time most of the claimants had been posted and moved on to other units. My first weekend pass was nearly canceled by the fact that I was unsure of my army number, the corporal watching me make out my pass saw me check with my army book. I therefore had to learn it by heart, before a pass was issued.
I caught the train home, dressed in army kit with the injunction to get my overcoat pressed up in proper military style; it took about 2 hours to get it right, this included shining the buttons enough to blind any inspection of the same. At 2359 hours on Sunday night the pass expired so I had to insure I had checked in at the guardroom before the allotted time. Guard duty if or when it came on orders amounted to an inspection, then a two hourly walk about or nearly always a prelongated session in the cookhouse peeling spuds. Or cleaning large cooking pots, on one occasion a large rice pudding pot we asked the cook sergeant if we could get our plates and demolish it we got an extra feed as it would have been thrown away.

THE BATH BOOK.
One of the army ideas was cleanliness including routines about changing and sending to the laundry clothes especially socks to insure against damage to the feet through fungus etc; also a peculiar idea about bathing. There was a bath book which had to be signed when you had had a bath: presumably so that they could charge you on finding you UN- clean. The company had a designated bath day one Monday morning; we were marched to the bathhouse with our towels under your arm, the weather was freezing ice and snow on the ground. Water was supposed to be hot but so much was used up so quickly by so many lads bathing, it was not even Luke warm. I quickly opted for a shower but even then was watched to see if I had staid there long enough to get clean or catch a severe chill: both taking the same amount of time. Even after drying well with the towel I felt cold and did run back to the billet to get warm, and sign the book.

TAB JABS
January was pretty cold but we were paraded in plimsoles and shorts for P.T. next up were our jabs i.e.: injections to stave off all diseases. One of the soldiers in front of me saw the doctor‘s technique with the hypodermic syringe and promptly feinted all six feet six of him. We were to be given 24 hours free of duties to get over TAB. Now the army never gives you time off for unknown reasons. So I opted for a walk straight back to the barracks sit and write a letter home then when I got a bit shivery to get undressed and into bed this way most of the bad effects were avoided. Other of the soldiers adopted different strategies; some ran all the way to their billet with the idea that they were tough enough to avoid any effects. One Geordie lad who was back in the billet before myself sat on the bed and his teeth started to chatter and he had trouble removing his clothes so one of his mates undressed him and got him to bed, while another fetched a doctor who ordered a wheel chair and our friend was whisked off to the hospital to have tests done to assess the extreme reaction. The Geordie was back in his own bed in a few hours.

ORDERS
Coming back into camp, with another soldier; it must have been a Sunday evening as there was no body about we decided to have a quick look at orders, which were displayed on the sergeant majors office board. A quick look showed us we were both designated for guard duty within a few days. The soldier said have you got a blue biro pen? When I produced one he promptly opened the glass door of the case and drew lines over my name and his. I enquired of him if the alteration would be found out. No he said they would just think we were off duty for some reason or other, sick on leave, whatever and would fill the places with other available names from their lists.

SOLICITORS CLARK
Some way or other I did not get the assault course. We had all seen it with the walls to scale the muddy ditch to swing over crawling under pipe-ways etc. A soldier in our platoon came into the billet he had his best battledress on and was covered in green brown mud all down his front face hands. He had put his second best BD. Into the tailor for alteration as instructed. He was consequently wearing his best BD and was unable to draw denims as they were all-out, when he went to draw them, so had had to attempt the assault course as he was. He described the rope swing over the mud he got a good takeoff but slipped face down on the landing side; to top it all found himself on guard duty that evening at 6-30.His only chance was to borrow a BD which fitted plus gaiters and boots which I leant him. He went on parade with half the platoon’s kit. And got stickman for the smartest soldier on parade which meant that he was released from guard duty forth with. He was training to be a solicitor in Civy Street he told us about visiting a prisoner who had criminally assaulted a young girl. They questioned him. About what he had done in all of the politest ways they could think off did he touch her in any way? Did he interfere with her? Each time the answer was NO! In the end the solicitor lost his temper and ask, look here” did you fuck her?” “O ay” he said.

CLEVER & SMART ARE4 NOT COMPATICAL
One morning I awoke early and had to go to the toilet it must have been about 5 o clock in the washroom was one of the soldiers shaving. When I asked why he was up so early? He said he would never manage to be ready for parade in time if he did not get up early. I remember he was generally in trouble for not looking very smart. When he passed out he got an interpreters job he could speak and write five languages

RSM,S PARADE
The RSM. Regimental Sergeant Major always run an Officers training parade once a month we were very interested to see what happened so we sneaked a look out of the rear window. If we had been caught it would have been a charge for certain. The RSM had a very loud voice and one of the junior officers dropped his rifle. The punishment was to double all around the parade ground while the RSM hurled allsorts of abuse at him swearing included but always finishing in” Sir.” RSM Clark (Nobly) also had strong aversions to being saluted by new recruits as I had found out on my first days at 2 Training Battalion. I did it and was quickly shown the crown on his uniform denoting a non-conditioned officer. Which meant he had to be called “Sir but did not rate a salute. I remember getting off with just a dressing down.

AWAITING POSTING
After all my training I was then Awaiting Posting with the designation of private clerk. Five of us all had to go to Southampton being the eldest I was placed in charge. After changing trains at Eastly the train stopped at this tiny station where we got off. The railway clerk on the opposite platform phoned up our unit without even being asked and a Tilley took us to 49 Company RASC. The camp was almost empty. It was in the month of May. The sun was shining lovely. We had our Tea at the back of the cook house with tables on the grass, we then had a chance to settle in on Sunday and get ourselves cleaned up ready for Orderly room on Monday morning. After parade I was introduced to the company office and its staff. The chief clerk, Sergeant Smith and a civilian lady clerk. I also got to know various other officers. Captain Treasurer (Sports Officer) a second lieutenant (Transport Officer) there was also a REME unit attached with its own Major Dilnot.There was also a Transport officer a second lieutenant, because the company was a transport company. Every day 20-ton trucks went to all parts of the country they also towed guns and radar to very many locations. The men on the unit were from all over England and Scotland Wales and Ireland. The Geordies and the Scouces’ were the funniest.

SW3IMMING SOUTHERN AREA CHAMPION
The new Co in charge of us had just come back from the Far East; he was very keen on sports and Regimental weekends. On Wednesdays we had sports day. In the summer this was cricket, those of us un- interested in the game were made to watch. Getting fed- up we applied to go too the Southampton Lido. One of the lads pushing for the swimming was a lad called Roscoe. I always thought him a bit slow and ponderous. At the Lido for the first time I had fairly quickly had enough, as it was quite cold Roscoe said to me. “Could you count the number of length I do?” I stood there, counting. After 30 I said I was cold and would have to get dressed. I had completely miss judged Driver Roscoe he told us he was Southern Area champion for distances around half a mile. This he proved one weekend by coming second in the marines half a mile dash at Lee on Solient in a very choppy sea. Our Co was very pleased and asked Roscoe what he would like to do in the afternoon. The outcome was we all went to the soccer game at the Dell. In the winter there was football. To keep every one occupied we were split into two large teams the rules were anything goes but no fighting or punching etc. One of the tactics was to all get behind the ball and push. This ended in a pile of struggling men. After it was realized that the walking wounded were increasing week by week, this game was band. The next regimental weekend we were to have a dance. The local girls were to be invited by Posters, which I was to paint and distribute around all the large shops in Southampton. I had to go into the shops ask to see the personnel manager and ask if the poster could be put up in their canteen or staff room

AUDREY BOLTON
When the weekend of the Dance came around I was designated meeter and greeter, showing young ladies wear to leave coats and hats and advising them to keep their bag with them. The dance was a success. I had got friendly with a girl named Audrey and after the dance I walked with her down the road to her brother’s car. The next Friday evening I arranged to take her to the pictures in Southampton. We met in the town by her bus stop, found a film after the film there was just enough time to walk her to her bus stop and catch the last bus back to Itchen where she lived. By the time I got to my bus stop the last bus had gone so I started to walk. It was about 5 miles to Hedge End where the camp was and I only done about half a mile out of Southampton When a Matador (Army Tractor) appeared. The Welsh soldier known as Taffy turned it round and run me almost back to camp, he did not want to go too close incase he was spotted by anyone. I asked him about petrol but he said he could fiddle that easy

TRICKS& BIRTHDAYS
My bed space was nearest to the door Taffy’s was opposite; Roscoe’s was in the middle of the room the light switch was at the far end, with the corporal’s room in the passage of the spider H block. I had an evening out with Audrey and was therefore last to get ready for bed. The other men seemed interested in having the light turned off and getting to sleep. I walked down the room and switched off the light then sat with my feet just under the clothes while still talking to Taffy. There was more encouragement to get to sleep. When I put my feet into the bed I felt something cold and slimy and I immediately threw it at Taffy. Now Taffy always slept naked; the shouts and naked dancing on top of his bed sent everyone into hysterics. The cold wet thing was a frog. One morning I woke and the first thing I always did was to put on my glasses. On this particular morning there was a white mist before me because they had brasso-ed my lenses. After just going off to sleep I felt the bed move and awoke to find them laughing this happened twice then they must have given up. The next morning at dawn one of the soldiers found himself in bed in the middle of the parade ground.

My bed space had been moved to the middle of the room and opposite me were two Liverpudlian drivers one had a birthday coming up and the taller one had promised him a nice birthday present. The shorter one declined all need of a present from his friend. The taller scouse had booked himself in for guard duty on the eve of the others birthday. At half passed four there was a clumping of boots and someone whispering.”Wake up scouse and see your cake and blow out the candle and sign the early call book”. The swearing was fearful but the blowing out ceremony of a six-inch candle stuck into a tiny fairy cake and the early call book had to be done before peace resumed.

ASSISTANT DRIVER
One morning I was called to the transport office and informed I was to be assistant driver to a Scamel Break down truck, I had not passed a driving test, but was to go with a corporal to help him recover this vehicle; a 2o ton truck which had broken down. This breakdown truck developed nearly a hundred-horse power, the truck to be collected was at an army camp at Bassingstoke, and sitting high in the cab I surveyed the country side while the corporal drove this machine which had thee banks of gears. I was intrigued that the cars were not anxious to pass us, it was explained to me that this Scamel was like a tank and would probably go straight through a house if driven into one. The afternoon was uneventful until we were on our way home with 20-ton truck in tow. When we came on a bus in a narrow lane and I had to get down and signal my corporal to back up the lorry and Scamel. This went OK so we were home in time for tea.

WOOF-WOOF
The next journey was when we went on summer camp all the way up to Hornsea Yorkshire. This took in Two days driver training to get there. Most of the journey I spent in the back of a lorry watching the scenery go by, We went through the new forest to Salisbury, North of London to Cambridge then north again to the wash, then across country again and up through the dales and finally into Yorkshire Via Driffield then down to Hornsea. We did have one overnight stop in the Sherwood Forest but it was uneventful. At Hornsea we met the RASC. Sergeant Major; Woof -Woof Jones.. The nickname was probably owing to his low loud bark. One of his disciplinary tricks was to get you to parade for orderly room for the slightest misdemeanor. This meant being fully dressed in best BD. He would call the parade to attention announce the names off the real’ criminals’ then dismiss all the rest. Hornsea was not much more than a village we did spend one evening in a pub but the beer was flat, that’s how they serve it up there, a walk along the beach and a chat with some girls from Fleet wood was about all the entertainment we got, before returning to Southampton. After Southampton, I was drafted to Oakham Rutland.

OAKHAM
The day I moved was a cold day in January the warrant gave me a ticket to both parts of the journey but the ETA did not allow me time to get home. Before changing trains in London. The train to Oakham was very slow and I kept inquiring of the guard when we would get there. The train was steam in those days and before we arrived it had started to snow. It was coming down fast as I got off the train and another soldier said 28 Company. I asked how he knew and he said there was nothing else near. He inquired how I was going to get to camp, I replied by phoning up for transport”. O! I would not do that” he said. Sergeant Major Nixon would not like that. I ignored his comments and phoned for transport. The transport took about half an hour to turn up. When it arrived it was a 15-hundredweight Tilley with driver Guard Commander and a couple of guards, it was snowing heavily by this time and I slung my gear on board. I was curious why they were all dressed in full uniform; and was told about the siphoning off of petrol, on the company park overnight and that the guard was doubled then doubled again then full kit was to be worn: by this time the petrol thieving had ceased. My next question was would I have to do guard duty? They said seeing that I was a clerk they said I would do telephone duty instead this was a great relief until I found out the truth of the situation.

BED & BLANKETS
It was nearly nine o clock before I got to the camp, and had great difficulty in finding a bed space for the night also drawing sheets and blankets from the Quartermasters store. The duty store keeper was very reluctant to issue blankets at that time of night, I pointed out that that was what he was there for so with my blankets I staggered back to the only bed space I could find in with the REME attachment. The next job was to find an Iron to press up my BD for Orderly room, as I knew I would be interviewed by the OC.in the morning. I also damped the trousers of second BD and carefully laid it flat beneath the mattress. At revalley there was chaos! I made up the bed and went to the ablutions to shave etcetera but there was very little light most soldiers were using a jealously guarded piece of mirror glass to shave with. I managed to borrow a pieced and shave by it. I was not very happy with this place. After the interview with Major Tierny I was placed in the company office under a civilian clerk. Who also managed a Pub in the Town .One of the first jobs I was given was to get all the army orders up to date. Making crossings out and pasting in new sentences and paragraphs wear appropriate. This was to be done in my spare time between other regular errands and duty’s. It seemed that the Sergeant Major Nixon followed me around the whole camp for the first fortnight asking wear I was going and what I was doing; after that he gave up. And I barely saw him apart from parades and when working for him as his clerk.

Saturday mornings was usually taken up with a company parade and then an inspection of the camp by the OC, in which he would visit selected barrack rooms and go through the kit of the soldiers sometimes walking across the beds and throwing offending kit straight out of the windows which were always open for the occasion. On bad mornings charges might be brought but normally those not on duties, and with passes; could jog into Oak ham to catch the first available train to London for the weekend or until 2359 hrs on Sunday night.

NIGHT TRAIN-CAN YOU RUN
The last train from St Pancras station generally carried some of our soldiers on one occasion we had a compartment, full. The first stop was Oakham some wanted a sleep so they unscrewed the light bulbs two slept in the luggage rack a above the rest. We all must have fallen asleep, because the train stopped with a jerk and we all panicked to know where we were, and then to get ourselves off the train before it traveled on to Edinburgh.. I think there was a duty truck to meet us on this occasion but there was not always one. Coming off the train from London one evening I decided to drop into Bob’s Pub (The Crown) on the way back to camp, which was approximately a mile and a half or more. The Corporal in charge of the driver training squad was there and his trainees had all bought him a tot of whisky He asked me if I could run then took my weekend case and strapped it on his bicycle. There were still eight tots of whisky on the counter at this stage. I asked if he intended to drink them all?. Sure he said and demolished two more. As soon as the last whisky was drunk he said right lets go, I ran and he cycled. At just over the halfway point to the camp I noticed the bicycle wobbling severely, then it stopped and he got off. He said now you cycle and I run, I asked about getting past the guard and he said his friend was the guard commander; I cycled to the camp gate got off the bike and caught him, shepherded him back to his room where he flaked out on the bed.

SARGENT MAJORS CLARK
There was a time when I acted as Sergeant Majors Clerk this usually went with the rank of at least Lance Corporal, however I received no rank, although this would not have mattered in most circumstances, it sometimes made carrying out the sergeant majors orders difficult because some soldier with a higher rank could object; and make his objection personal. The OC put out an order for a regimental weekend every body confined to camp. SM Nixon informed me of this saying he wanted NO leave applications left in his in tray. Although everyone was informed on orders about this but two soldiers insisted their right to passes and left them in the SM’s in tray (against my permission). One was the Driver in charge of the petroleum store the other a sergeant attached on a driving course. SM Nixon walked into his office there was a howl of rage.” Private Dyett what is the meaning of this?2 said he holding up the relevant offending applications. After I was allowed to explain there was another howl “. Guard Commander “. The guard was sent to bring Driver Harrison in double quick time to appear before the CSM. Driver Harrison appeared after knocking and saluting smartly. “What’s this? Demanded Nixon; Brandishing the application under the Drivers nose. After Harrison’s brief insistence that he was entitled to a compassionate pass, The air turned Blue with the CSM, s tirades of all he knew off Driver Harrison’s exploits regarding the hole in the perimeter fence at the back of the camp and how Driver Harrison used this on numerous occasions to absent himself from camp when he should have been there. It then became clear why Driver Harrison was apt to creep into the NAFFI of a Monday evening surreptitiously inquiring, “Has anybody missed me?” The sergeant whose pass was also turned down tried to have a go at me outside the office; I just said I was following Sergeant Majors Orders.

T5HE RIOT ACT
The next happening was a near mutiny. The ration appeared to be very poor. One morning a regular soldier complained at break fast about his small proportion of food to the orderly officer there was a discussion with the cook sergeant but nothing happened. At breakfast on a morning soon after I noticed the person immediately in front of me had put his porridge plate and egg and bacon on top of one another and placed them on the empty plate table. Every body else did the same the height of the crockery grew rapidly. It was in the summer and anyone on jankers, i.e.; confined to barracks would be put in the cookhouse in the summer and outside cleaning in the winter. So this prisoner watched with total dismay, as the dirty plates grew to a height where it was no longer possible to reach to put more plates on it. At diner time we went to the N.A.F.F I. In the afternoon we were all assembled in N.A.F.F.I. again and were read the riot act. In the evening the OC himself arrived in the cookhouse. The ration corporal was on orders the next morning. Then things moved very rapidly. The Guard Commander had orders to check every passage in and out of the camp without fail. It appeared that lots of drivers were coming back to camp late and leaving before parade but did not check in or out so the meals they consumed were not registered on our ration state. After this the food perked up rapidly a menu was also typed up for each day of the week and was on the notice board. A new cook sergeant was appointed and even asked our opinion on various dishes.

The OC sent a Driver on a Trumpeters Course. He arrived back in camp a fully-fledged trumpeter; orders were drawn up for him to play all the calls from reveille to lights out. Standing in full BD, under the flag-mast on the parade ground. At first he was very keen and the CSM was keen to check on him. He was in the adjoining bed space to me in HQ billet. Now the trumpeter slipped up one morning and I awoke with a howling draught coming through the window and a trumpet pointing out being blown furiously by our late riser, who at the same time was pelted with flying boots. Soon after the CSM clocked his tardiness and he was on a charge.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SUPPLY & TRANSPORT (BRIGADDEER)
The ADS&T. was due for a big admin inspection: every thing in the camp was to be inspected for faults and omissions, all documents were checked. At least Army Regulations were all up to date. The inspection lasted a whole week and of cause there were parades and extra guards and duties to contend with. It all calmenated in a large parade, where the Brigadier ADS&T took the salute. The whole thing had gone off with flying colours. The OC could not believe his luck; he even came around the barrack rooms cracking jokes. “There was a little bird in a field where a bull was and the bull shit all over him, the bird managed to struggle out of the mess and tried a little walk, then flapped its wings, finally after disposing of the shit decided to try a little run then a little fly and it flew to the top of the tree by the farmhouse: where it sat whistling. This all happened early in the morning and the farmer was irritated by the noise so took his gun and shot the bird dead. The moral of the story is, if you reach the top of the tree by bullshit keep your mouth shut”. The OC being a military man decided to celebrate in an army manner and have a large parade on Saturday morning: I was duty clerk as it happened and was therefore excused parade as somebody had to be in the office to answer the telephone. I new that a large party had left the camp over night (Friday). It quickly reached my ears that two thirds of the parade was missing there was big gaps in each platoon. Monday morning there were at least thirty soldiers on orderly room, and when asked if they would accept the OCs punishment they all refused. The next thing was the OC asking for a phone call to Cornel Hungerford at Group. The following day there was a long queue for orderly room: the charges must have been changed as they all agreed to accept punishment, which amounted to seven to fifteen days CB.

CAPTAIN CHADWICK B 2 IC.
Captain Chadwick had a large Alsatian dog called Toby. One night when I was telephone duty the Captain asked me to go to the officers mess get the dog and take him to the camp gate and tell him to find his master, who was obviously in a pub in Oakham getting well and truly sloshed. It was also apparent to me that some form of bet about the dog’s ability was in progress. I said I would do my best and with some in trepidation I went to the officer’s mess to collect the dog, but Toby had other ideas and went straight towards the cookhouse, at his top running speed. I went back to my duty and had to report failure to the Captain later in the evening

A NARROW ESCAPE
The whole of the company went on summer camp to Thetford. A small number of H.Q. staff were left to administer the camp at Oakham. I was one of those; also Major Hillary (in charge of the camp) and one or two other odd driver’s cooks and staff. Although our duty’s were frequent, the camp was fairly quiet, No CSM Nixon to chases us about. The Boxers on the unit all went to Ripon to fight in the RASC champion ships, and came back all winning their fights, three with Knockouts and the others on points. The OC was tickled pink and sent them back to us. For a rest before a 72 hr passes fore the weekend. A Welsh driver during this time had come into the camp. He had had a couple of nights in Oakham and had got very friendly with a certain ginger girl, who was very well known to most of the drivers as being rather easy. The Welshman was very talkative about how nice this girl was when Houlton (one of the boxers who had demolished his man inside the first moments of his fight) inquired of the girl’s name. On being told said something like “Your not the first mate we have all been with her”. Houlton was undressed ready for bed at this time, the Welshman wanted to fight, Houlton’s comment was” your drunk but if you still want satisfaction tomorrow I will give you your chance in the Gym. We quickly dissuaded “The keen lover” not to bother and as far as I know he did as we advised.

I was on telephone duty and the phone rang at approximately 2330 hrs. It was a Sunday night and I was surprised to hear Major Hillary’s voice telling me that he was at Kings Cross station and would I arrange for a Tilly to pick him up at Oakham station, at which he either ran out of money or had replaced the phone. The guard commander was informed. After I had got my head down the phone rang again. It was the Tilly driver wanting to know what he should do as he could not find the Major and the last train from London was gone and the stationmaster had said the only other possibility was Melton Mobery. I advised the driver to find him at all costs. Soon after I got a phone call from Melton where Major Hillary was waiting in the cold for his Tilly. The Major arrived back in the camp. I heard him turn out the guard and inspect them. Then he went straight off to bed leaving orders not to be disturbed for breakfast. I thought I was right in trouble probably on a “fizzer” (A charge). At about 0900hrs the Major Tierny phoned and asked to speak to Major Hillary. I said I could not contact him and that he might be inspecting the camp. I went over to the officer’s mess myself and told his batman to wake him up and tell him the OC wanted to speak to him .on the phone. I also said I excepted any blame for this action.( I was probably already on a charge anyway). About half an hour later Major Hillary came into the office and asked me to phone Major Tierney. I also mentioned that I had said he was inspecting the camp. That was the last I heard of the affair except for one small comment “Private Dyett the forgetful.” One morning Captain Chadwick complained that his desk had fire smuts on it I went in to wipe it with the only rag I could find. Chadwick screamed, “What is this?” Cleaning the desk with the RASC flag. I quickly replied that the motto said “Honi soit qui mal y pense.”Which means evil be to him who evil thinks. Major Hillary Piped up,” and not without hard work carry on. .Lance corporal Phillip Williams had been attached to Group at the request of cornel Hungerford. On returning to the unit he was wearing a bleached tie both the captain Chadwick and the CSM. Spotted the tie and complained that it was not regulation. When corporal Williams replied that” the Cornel was wearing one”. All was smoothed over and both the complainants switched to a bleached tie on the following day

.SPORTS WEEK END

The 2 IC Captain Chadwick ordered a parade for sport .the thing was to find out if anyone one the unit could play rugby as the Major wanted to send a team of seven a side to Aldershot The CSM was informed . We had an afternoon parade at this time for work and the CSM presumed that this would suffice and when the Captain made no appearance dismissed the parade and went back into his office. Captain Chadwick arrived on the scene and wanted to know were his parade was? I was sent to inform the CSM. Who came out marched up to the 2 IC and saluted and stood to attention. The next morning the CSM was on orderly room and was marched in by two National Service second Lieutenants. He was furious. He received a severe reprimand. After which he fizzed around the camp for about a month looking for minor demeanors. As for the rugby team I found myself elected to the team having snatched the captains legs away when he thought he was on a free run for a try. We did have a weekend at Aldershot, but we had no chance against the Welsh Teams who were full o professional players. The party afterwards was very, good plenty of food and drink; but I had never heard such filfy songs which were led by the captain at the piano ( I did not even guess he could play) The captain drove some of us back to camp in his own car. Every time he saw a soldier he tooted the horn and Yelled Out of my way you F****** Nignogs!

DEMOB DRIVVER PRIEST
Demob was on the Arisen for several of us. The boxer Albert Priest caused the most apprehension we were all aware that he might go over the top on his Demob night party. It was Saturday evening I was in the HQ barrack room when Driver Harrison came back off leave. He opened his locker and started to spread his kit out , to inspect and clean those parts he considered not up to scratch: when someone mentioned the name Priest and it connected in his mind with Demob party . Very quickly all his kit was back in his locker; when asked what he was doing he said “If Priest finds me here I will surely get turned out of bed”. With that he wrapped himself in a blanket and with a pillow went to sleep in the far corner of the room as far out of sight as possible. I went to sleep fairly early with the thought that would probably be a rumpus about midnight. Sure enough about mid night we were disturbed by the AQMS reading Priest the rules for eventual demob.i.e. all in bed quietly within 10 minutes, or else a charge. All complied except the scouse cook, who wanted to talk. Priest asked him very nicely at least twice to get undressed and into bed. He would not listen, so Priest hit him right on the point of his chin and he went out like a light. He was then undressed and put in his pajamas and into bed. The AQMS looked in to see everything was quiet. On reveille the boxer House (Mickey Mouse) was found fully dressed on his bed. The scouse cooks holding his chin and wondering what he had bumped into. (None of us dare tell him.) And Driver Harrison introducing himself and proceeding to place his kit out and. make his bed up. Mickey Mouse said the rest had gone off and left him. Apparently he went to the toilet, which was across the pub yard and fell asleep and had to wake Bob the Publican up to let him out.

Before demob we each had to have a medical. For this we had to go to Leicester. The Medical orderly had to have his medical also. So on the due day we both set off for our check up at Leicester Hospital; by train. The medical only took half an hour then we were free to explore the town. We had a lunch and then proceeded to the cinema to see Sabrina Fair, with Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn. At half past four we had to catch the train back to camp. I was a bit apprehensive about the time we had spent, but the medical corporal said it was normal.

DASH FOR HOME
Needless to say on the morning I was to leave I was all packed up ready to go before parade I was sitting in the company office waiting to be given my travel warrant, It was nearing half past 1100hrs when I managed to ask Captain Chadwick about my demob warrant .He seemed un aware that I was leaving but called me in and made out my pass and travel warrant right away. I had a tilly down to the station. By the time I got there the London train had gone, this meant nearly two hours wait. There was a train from Kettering so I asked the taxi driver if he could get there in time. He said he could so I was on my way home. The army had designated me a reservist so I would have to do weeks of training at some date in the future.