National Service

[oldMohawk]

Hi Maurice - I notice I've got some dust on the left side of the strap but it had been in a loft for 50 years. I remember wearing it on my first leave home - felt quite proud as I walked along New Street all those years ago !
Phil

 

[sospiri]

Hi Phil,

It actually looks in pretty good shape for its age. My mother had had a bonfire and burnt my entire uniform within a month of me being demobbed in May 1957. "You won't be needing that again". she says, without reference to me! It would have just have been nice to have been asked, but she was a very impetuous lady.

Maurice

 

[oldMohawk]

Hi Maurice - Mine survived for 10 years as I notice I had already commented as below earlier in this long running thread ...

Yesterday, I was trying to remember my 'demob' day from RAF Topcliffe in Yorkshire, and how I must have felt travelling down by train with my kit bag. All I can remember however, was arriving in my parents house, opening the loft trapdoor and throwing the unopened kit bag through it. I did not look at it again until about 10 years later when my parents wanted the loft insulated. I told them to dump the kit bag and contents except for my best blue hat which I still have.

 

[sospiri]

Hi Phil,

Apart from my Cardington official photograph, which I still have, the only other thing I hung onto (I believe only until I moved out here to Crete) was my Station Band card giving me exemption from all guards and fire picquets. That stayed in successive wallets for 48 years after I was demobbed, but by 2005 it was very creased, worn, and falling to pieces.

Maurice

 

[caggyken]

Hi All
Photo of myself on aP.T.I.course at Army School of Physical Training at Aldershot Nov 1954, I am middle row on the left. We were tough then , no P.T vest

 

[paul stacey]

Fine body of men Ken, shame the kids got at the photo, my son passed out as PTI for the Para's, same school 2007. Time never stands still.

 

[Smudger]

Coming home on leave from Germany, at Gatwick you were always stopped by the Gestapo ( oops, i meant those nice customs men ) & they would ask you various questions trying to trap you into finding out what contraband you had & they were very very strict back then. I`d bought myself a nice Omega watch & i knew i would have to pay duty on it or have it confiscated, so i sewed it inside my trousers. I was asked if i had a watch & i said no, but the tell tale white band on my wrist aroused his suspicions. "Where`s your watch" he asked. I said laughingly that i had broke it in a fight with a big hairy Russian. He stared at me for a while before putting the white chalk mark on my case which meant it had been checked & i could go. Good job there were no metal detectors to walk thru back then.

 

[oldMohawk]

Reading through this thread I notice I've managed to recall and post about more memories from my two years National Service than I remember many of my uncles talking about after completing their national service in the Second World War. My NS was just a major inconvenience to me at the time but for my uncles it was a life changing experience which they probably wanted to forget. The youngest of my uncles was captured at Dunkirk to spend the whole of the war as a POW.

 

[Smudger]

Reading through this thread I notice I've managed to recall and post about more memories from my two years National Service than I remember many of my uncles talking about after completing their national service in the Second World War. My NS was just a major inconvenience to me at the time but for my uncles it was a life changing experience which they probably wanted to forget. The youngest of my uncles was captured at Dunkirk to spend the whole of the war as a POW.

oldMohawk, maybe it was a blessing being taken prisoner, away from any (major) threat. At least the Germans didn`t treat their prisoners too harshly. My brother in law served in Burma, & the only thing he would say about his experiences there was, "After what i`ve seen how can there be a god" ?

 

[ChrisM]

Interesting point, oldMohawk. There are very few veterans about these days, most regrettably, and I wonder whether they would have been any more forthcoming had they had the benefit of a Forum like this - and other specialised WW2 forums - in which to tell of their experiences. The vast majority of them were conscripted and performed their National Service, just like us postwar conscripts, but you are quite right, the experiences in the main were very different from what most of us experienced and not generally talked about.

I understand that the situation was not very different in the Great War. The feeling then was that no one who had not had a similar experience could possibly understand, even in the unlikely event of the remotest interest on the part of the audience; and no doubt they were in any case happy to forget, or at least to try to. My own father (Western Front 1918) would chat at length with my father-in-law (Paschendael 1917) and also with his eldest son (Eighth Army, North Africa, Sicily and Italy 1943-1945) but little emerged in public. But then, was I interested enough at the time to ask? (Although I DID much later persuade my brother - who was very reluctant, "who on earth would be interested?" etc., etc. - to write a lengthy memoir which is now a treasured part of the family archive).

Those of us who post about postwar NS don't have this problem. But I have met blokes who had ghastly experiences as conscripts in Korea which haunted them half-a-century later, another friend lost a leg in Cyprus and Kenya and Malaya can't have been pleasant for anyone involved. So even postwar NS wasn't cushy for everyone.

Chris

 

[Eddie 14]

Right lads.this thread has gone to sleep long enough. As Chris said there are not many of us left to tell the stories, so here we go again.
Initial training, on the square, this was at Blandford, the Cpls used to call the recruits all the names under the Sun if anything was not done correctly, one word was "you idle melts" we never knew what that meant, and I don't think some of the N.C.O.s did either. I have never found out exactly what it meant but someone said we were a clott of blood in a cow's udder.if anyone did something wrong the Cpl would go up to that lad and speak to him, no shout at him, and the lad would look at the N.C.O and the next remark was "what are you looking at me for, I'm no oil painting" . there were answers to that but you dare not say a word.
At Devizes it was very different as the married quarters were alongside the square and the wives used to walk around it when going to the shops in town, there was no bad language at all.
Come on lads get the Grey matter working, answers to the above please.

Dave

 

[Smudger]

Right lads.this thread has gone to sleep long enough. As Chris said there are not many of us left to tell the stories, so here we go again.
Initial training, on the square, this was at Blandford, the Cpls used to call the recruits all the names under the Sun if anything was not done correctly, one word was "you idle melts" we never knew what that meant, and I don't think some of the N.C.O.s did either. I have never found out exactly what it meant but someone said we were a clott of blood in a cow's udder.if anyone did something wrong the Cpl would go up to that lad and speak to him, no shout at him, and the lad would look at the N.C.O and the next remark was "what are you looking at me for, I'm no oil painting" . there were answers to that but you dare not say a word.
At Devizes it was very different as the married quarters were alongside the square and the wives used to walk around it when going to the shops in town, there was no bad language at all.
Come on lads get the Grey matter working, answers to the above please.

Dave

All nco`s have to pass a sarcasm course before they don their stripes. " Am i hurting you laddie" No corporal. " Well i should be, i`m standing on your hair, get it cut" " When you were born laddie they threw the wrong bits away" " If i was your father i`d shoot you" Someone in the back row whispered " If you were my father i`d shoot myself" " If brains were s..t laddie you`d be constipated" I`m sure there are many more.

 

[paul stacey]

Gods own acre, this was the name given to the main parade square at the Guards Depot Pirbright, (should have been call Hell's own acre), the name calling was the same but to graphic, to put in print but one regular saying was, "You are ORRIBILE, you little man", "I have seen some ORRIBLE men in my time but you take the title hands down", "if you was normal, you would still be ORRIBLE", lovely days.paul

 

[Eddie 14]

Hi ,lads,I see some have woken up , good on yer!!! Blandford the Sgts were very smart in their dress but at the Wilts they were all shapes, mostly those long serving.
The N/S lads ,being in only two years and being younger middle age spread had not caught up on them and they were a nicer type. I don't remember one of them who I would call a nasty type.as I dealt with all ranks there, quite an enjoyable camp to be at.

Dave

 

[foggy39]

Hi Eddie 14, I was at Blandford 1960 and Sgt Kelly kindly gave us a definition of "melt" which it would be inappropriate to quote in this thread. He also asked me where I was from I told him B'ham he said that was a suburb of Coventry, because that was where he came from, being shrewd I didn't argue!

 

[paul stacey]

Being called "Brummie", all my military life I cannot say now as it is deemed politically incorrect, but my colour, my ethnicity , and my birth-right, were all called in to question, 'HO', how I miss that old, easier, less complicated world. Paul

 

[norfolk brummie]

Now is as good a time to again remind all ex-service men, including National Service personal, that they should apply for their Veterans Badge (no cost). Call The Veterans Agency on 0800 169 2277. Service details must be provided. At the appropriate time, I wear mine with pride. Also available are National Service medals and ribbons in recognition of services undertaken for both Queen & Country. These however, are not campaign medals, but have been struck in commemoration of services rendered. They do cost money, but further details are available on www.awardmedals.com or tel: (01952) 510053. Again, I am proud, as an ex National Serviceman to wear these medals.

 

[norfolk brummie]

Also another thought for ex.National Service personal. If you face difficulties in your life, financial, health and other matters, the Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association (SSAFA) is there to help. My sister, living in Yardley Wood, lost her husband when he was 73, and they have supported my sister in many ways. Its a great institution.

 

[Smudger]

Also another thought for ex.National Service personal. If you face difficulties in your life, financial, health and other matters, the Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association (SSAFA) is there to help. My sister, living in Yardley Wood, lost her husband when he was 73, and they have supported my sister in many ways. Its a great institution.

Also the British Legion can help ex service personell. When my wife was recovering from cancer the legion organised a stay at a Legion hotel in Southport which was very welcome at the time. ( I did ask for a fortnight in Spain, but had to settle for Southport) :-}

 

[norfolk brummie]

Thanks Smudger, your are quite right. The British Legion does a great job for all ex. servicemen. It was bad of me not to mention the BL. After demobilisation my father was the British Legion Secretary of the Hall Green Branch. They always met at the Robin Hood Hotel.

 

[serviceman]

Hi Eddie 14, I was at Blandford 1960 and Sgt Kelly kindly gave us a definition of "melt" which it would be inappropriate to quote in this thread. He also asked me where I was from I told him B'ham he said that was a suburb of Coventry, because that was where he came from, being shrewd I didn't argue!

In the late sixties various artillery regiments were affiliated to cities or areas, Foggy. It was all supposed to stimulate recruiting, (I was in 2nd, who were known as the Manchester Gunners for example).
19th only recently became the Scottish Gunners after 40th, who were known as the Lowland gunners, disbanded.

Don't you mean THE HIGHLAND GUNNERS

 

[serviceman]

Was conscripted 1947 into what was ( THE GENERAL SERVICE CORPS ) reported to Stirling Castle in June 1947. Did basic training under three NCO's of The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and given number 19182287. On end of basic was posted to Hilsea Barracks, Portsmouth for training as store man under a L/Cpl Lightman, four weeks and given a weeks leave and report to Piddlehinton Camp outside Dorchester for MT training. Six weeks there and then to 6th Batt. RAOC ,Chilwell, went on draft to Feltham and sailed for destinations unknown on Arundle Castle end DEC. 47. Then Gib. came in sight, Malta, Athens, Salonkia, Port Said, disembarked and entrained for ride down side of Suez Canal to Port Suez. Then to 614 AOD, RAOC, Palestine until June 48, sailed on Georgic for Port Said and to 5 BOD RAOC, Had seven days R&R, unit disbanded, posted to 301st Mobile Laundry, Cyprus until May 49 and home

 

[paul stacey]

I was a member of the RBL for years like my dad and father in law, the old RBL was a great place run by the last of the WW1 lads , the modern one does do some brilliant work with ex service personnel, but I am no longer a member, though I give a cheque donation each year, and always buy my poppy, and three cross's for my mates . We don't even have an office in Cambridge any more, nearest is Huntingdon, the local club is now a workers club and they seem very ante military, so I don't go any more. The old military comradery is gone from there. I go every year to our local cenotaph, and lay my cross's though.Paul

 

[serviceman]

Must agree on this, most Legion branches are closed now, too many close ranks that appear to hold balance in clubs. Committee's full of non service people who hold that say in workings of clubs

 

[serviceman]

I was a member of the RBL for years like my dad and father in law, the old RBL was a great place run by the last of the WW1 lads , the modern one does do some brilliant work with ex service personnel, but I am no longer a member, though I give a cheque donation each year, and always buy my poppy, and three cross's for my mates . We don't even have an office in Cambridge any more, nearest is Huntingdon, the local club is now a workers club and they seem very ante military, so I don't go any more. The old military comradery is gone from there. I go every year to our local cenotaph, and lay my cross's though.Paul

Must agree on this statement, Legion clubs are closing left, right and centre by mismanagement. Young ones or non ex-service personal appear to have most say in club running

 

[norfolk brummie]

The newly recruited troops were lined up.
Drill Sergeant: "Right, those with a university degree take two steps forward" - four recruits took two steps forward.
Drill Sergeant: "Those with a Grammar school education take one step forward" - a further six took one step forward.
Drill Sergeant: "Right. Those with the University degree will pick up all the litter. Those with the Grammar school education will follow behind and collect the bits the more educated ones missed. The rest of you ignorant B......S can follow behind and see how its done" - True story.

 

[oldMohawk]

Many RAF camps had cinemas which were named Astras. One I remember was run by a very grumpy NCO and one night we started watching a film and could hear people talking in the film but we could not see them. We eventually realised the film was cinemascope (wide screen) and the black side curtains had not been opened. A brave soul went to the office to tell the NCO and he never came back, he had been chucked out so we carried on watching the film we could only half see.

Thinking back we used to obediently stand still at the end of the night's program while the national anthem played. In our local cinema in Brum we would try to rush out before the anthem started, but if only half way out when it started we did stand still in the aisles while it played and it was usually the long version.

 

[sheldontony]

Coming back to RBL, I have been a member for over 20 years but our local branch here is the most active I have come across. We have a Pipes and Drums section and an Irish Wolfhound as a mascot, do great service.

 

[paul stacey]

#1237, the last thing my dad said as I left Snow hill was , "Don't ever Volunteer for anything son", within about and hour of arriving and being kitted out in working kit a GG Sgt, about 6'8", appeared, we all stood in awe of him, in nice quite voice said, "hello lads, now then who amongst you can ride a motor bike well", within a second a dozen hands shot up including mine, "good, good, you lads come out here , your all on coal fatigues, for the next 3 days", I have never worked as hard before or since, talk about gutted. Taught me a valuable lesson though. #1236, thanks Dave you've made my day.!!!! #1235, the best one I heard recently was in " Forest Gump", when the master Sgt asked him on the bus to join the Marines, "What are you going to do in this mans army son", every thing you tell me Sgt, "Correct answer, God damn boy, you will go far in this mans army".

 

[Eddie 14]

A story about the 3.5 inch mortor, this is before your time Paul. In training at Gosport we had to work on the 3.5 inch which was trailed on the back of most army transport as it was basically a tube on a square base plate which had spikes on the underside so that when dropped in dug into the ground. The wheels were on quadrant arms which were locked into position were being pulled by transport. In those quadrant arms were holes for tommy bars to fit into them, these were about 5 ft long. What had to be done was two lads of equal stature had to release the lock, put in the bars, and work together and rotate the bars upwards which as the weight of the mortor took over they had to be careful to let it down equally other wise one of them would get thrown forward. We did not know all this info until the Sgt picked two lads of totally opposite statures. Little Billy Gooch was 5 ft tall and the other lad was 6 ft, you can imagine what happened. Little Billy got thrown across the hut and the mortor dug itself into the floor as he could not hold the weight, there were a few holes in the floor but the Sgt didn't seem worried. He knew what was going to happen and he used the two lads to show that you must be of equl steture to handle the 3.5.

Dave