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St George's Barracks, Sutton Coldfield in the 1960s

F

FabulousGab

Brummie babby
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My name is Michael and for a novel I am writing I am looking for information on the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers from 1967 onwards.
I would actually like to know where a junior soldier (and NOT a junior leader) would have been trained from September 1967 onwards? I understand that they would have been trained up until that year in their fusilier brigade, actually at St George's Barracks, Sutton Coldfield. But I have heard that they may have transferred to a newly opened junior infantry battalion at Shorncliffe in Kent? Do you know if there were any junior soldiers still being trained at Sutton Coldfield in 1967-69?
I hope I am not bothering with this question for history buffs. If you can't find the answer (or the time to answer it), would you be so kind as to direct me to someone who can?
Yours sincerely,
Michael
 
Became Regional Centre for infantry training as the Fusilier Brigade Depot in 1960 changed in 1972.
Fusilier Depot in 1968.
In 1963 Royal Warwicks changed name to Fusiliers after 288 years. Meaning that after a break of 3 years Warwickshire men can now join the army and spend their first 12 months at St. George.
(February 1963, Coventry Evening Telegraph.)
 
Thanks for your replies.
But they don't tell me where these young recruits received their training at the time. In fact, did Sutton Coldfield continue to receive recruits from September 1967, or were they trained at Shorncliffe, or elsewhere?
 
Well the Fusilier Depot was there at least until 1969.
In June 1968 Junior Soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers performed at an Open-day at the Barracks.
In February 1969, intruders in the camp. A Reporter spent half hour taking photos in the Camp and Junior soldiers were on sailing practice, other soldiers being trained.

Don’t forget to credit the BHF in the novel credits.
 
Shorncliffe opened September 1967 for Junior Infantrymen with 400 entrants to be increased to 750 within 12 mouths.
There were still Junior soldiers training at St. George's Barracks in 1969. So as a novel is fictitious perhaps it would be better to choose Sutton if the character was a Warwickshire man.
 
Pedrocut said:
Shorncliffe opened September 1967 for Junior Infantrymen with 400 entrants to be increased to 750 within 12 mouths.
There were still Junior soldiers training at St. George's Barracks in 1969. So as a novel is fictitious perhaps it would be better to choose Sutton if the character was a Warwickshire man.
Click to expand...
Dear Pedrocut, thank you very much for your answers. It helps me a lot. It is true that it is fiction but I want it to be as realistic as possible. I would like to know more from you, facts for example but also anecdotes if you have any.
 
FabulousGab said:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My name is Michael and for a novel I am writing I am looking for information on the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers from 1967 onwards.
I would actually like to know where a junior soldier (and NOT a junior leader) would have been trained from September 1967 onwards? I understand that they would have been trained up until that year in their fusilier brigade, actually at St George's Barracks, Sutton Coldfield. But I have heard that they may have transferred to a newly opened junior infantry battalion at Shorncliffe in Kent? Do you know if there were any junior soldiers still being trained at Sutton Coldfield in 1967-69?
I hope I am not bothering with this question for history buffs. If you can't find the answer (or the time to answer it), would you be so kind as to direct me to someone who can?
Yours sincerely,
Michael
Click to expand...
Hi Michael. I joined R War F at the end of Sept 1965 although I did'nt start my training at St Georges until the end of Oct.
Training lasted 16 weeks and then I joined up with the Regiment in Somerset.
At the beginning of June 1967 I spent 2 weeks back at St Georges and there were still Junior Soldiers being trained there although I dont really have much info on them because they were in a different part of the barracks.
I dont suppose this is of much use to you other than to confirm they were still being trained there in 1967.
Good luck with your novel.
Ken
 
Ken1947 said:
Hi Michael. I joined R War F at the end of Sept 1965 although I did'nt start my training at St Georges until the end of Oct.
Training lasted 16 weeks and then I joined up with the Regiment in Somerset.
At the beginning of June 1967 I spent 2 weeks back at St Georges and there were still Junior Soldiers being trained there although I dont really have much info on them because they were in a different part of the barracks.
I dont suppose this is of much use to you other than to confirm they were still being trained there in 1967.
Good luck with your novel.
Ken
Click to expand...
Ken,
Sorry for the late reply.
Your message confirms what I wanted to know, thank you for that.
Have a nice day,
Michael
 
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