ARBORFIELD
A.A.S. PROSPECTUS 1952.
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[Original documents contributed
by Trevor STUBBERFIELD 52A]
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NOTE: The second version is
marginally different and consequently appears to be of a later date.
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Version 1 – page 1
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Version 2 – page 1
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SITUATION: Arborfield, RAILWAY STATIONS: Reading (Western Region) 7 miles;
Wokingham (Southern Region) 4 miles HISTORY
In 1938, the Army Council decided to increase the facilities for training
Apprentice Tradesmen for the Army. Accordingly, this School was set up and
commenced operations on |
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TRADES TAUGHT AT THE SCHOOL
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The School is designed to accommodate and train 1,000 apprentices
in the following trades:-
Apprentices are allotted to these trades in accordance with their aptitudes, within the numbers required. |
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STANDARD OF PROFICIENCY
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To train to the
Third Class Army Standard in their respective trades. |
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PAY DURING TRAINING
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TRADESMEN’S RATE OF PAY
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On attaining the age of 17½ years, apprentices are paid at the
rate of 7s. 0d. per day. The above rate is, of course, in addition to
accommodation, food, clothing, medical and dental treatment, etc. |
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LEAVE
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The School year
is divided into three working periods, and leave is granted as under:
No other leave is granted except in very special circumstances. Parents
and Guardians should never ask for apprentices to have extra leave if it can
possibly be avoided, as it unsettles them and deprives them of some of their
instruction. |
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TRAVELLING FACILITIES
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Apprentices receive a free railway warrant for the aforementioned
periods of leave. |
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ORGANISATION
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The School is split into five Companies. One H.Q. Company and
four Training Companies. The New Intake spend the first six months in H.Q. Coy,
where they receive their initial training. From H.Q. Coy, they are sent to a
Training Company, where they start the main part of their technical training. |
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BARRACKS
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Living accommodation is provided in a series or barrack blocks.
Each block contains six living huts connected by means of corridors to a
central lavatory and ablution block. The living huts are centrally heated,
and hot water is available in the central block for washing and shower baths. |
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Version 1 – page 2 |
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Version 2 – page 2 |
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COOKHOUSE AND DINING ROOMS
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Central cookhouse with dining rooms on either side provides
feeding facilities for the whole School at one sitting. |
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WORKSHOPS
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The School possesses seven large
workshops, each measuring 210 feet by 73 feet, giving a total capacity of
over 107,300 square feet. These shops possess excellent lighting, both
natural and artificial, and are centrally heated The lay-out is as follows: Fitters Shop; Machine Shop; Telecomm. Shop; Blacksmiths
(including Welders and Coppersmiths); Armourers; Carpenters; M.T. Shop;
Instrument Shop; Radio Laboratory. Each workshop has a tool store, and also a
classroom for instructional lectures. |
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MILITARY TRAINING
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On entering the School, each
apprentice is medically and dentally inspected, clothed and equipped, and
then spends the first four weeks of his service on the Square, In the
Education Classrooms and the Gymnasium. Later on he is given weapon training
and field craft. |
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TRADE
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All Apprentice Tradesmen spend
the next six months in the Fitting Shop, where they learn to file and. to use
the tools of their trades, except for two weeks in the Carpenters Shop. The
hours of work are from
At the end of the first six
months the Apprentice is asked to state his final choice of trade. Every
endeavour is made to allot the apprentice to the trade of his choice, but as
the number required for training in each trade are limited, allotment is made
by order of merit and suitability. The utmost care is exercised in this
allotment. |
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EDUCATION
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General - Three huts, each
sub-divided into four rooms give facilities for general education for 360
students at one time, and instruction is continued throughout the three years
of training. The Army Certificate of Education, First Class is obtained by
the majority, and the Forces Preliminary Examination is taken by many others. Technical - Technical
Instruction in Machine Drawing, Science, Workshop Practice, etc., is given In
special classrooms, provided for the purpose. |
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Version 1 – page
3 |
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Version 2- page
3 |
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RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
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Each apprentice tradesman receives
¾ hours Religious Instruction weekly, under a Chaplain of his own faith,
namely, Church of England, Church of Scotland, Methodist, Baptist or Roman
Catholic. |
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CINEMA, ETC.
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The Camp Hall provides seating
accommodation for 1,200 people, and fulfils three functions, i.e, Gymnasium,
Cinema and Concert Hall, and Church for Sunday Service. The School possesses
its own 35mm projectors, and pictures are shown on Saturday and Sunday
evenings. Company dances and concerts are also held periodically. |
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SMOKING
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Smoking by apprentices is prohibited during their first six
months at the School. Thereafter they are allowed to
smoke provided they are over 16 years of age and obtain their parents
consent. |
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REGIMENTAL INSTITUTES
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The N.A.A.F.I. has a well furnished canteen in which light
refreshments can be obtained there is a Reading and Writing Room and each
Company posses its own Games Room equipment with a full size billiard table
and other games, such as draughts, chess, etc. |
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BANDS
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The School possesses a Military Band and also a Pipe Band, both
composed of volunteers under the direction of a Band Sergeant and Pipe Major
respectively. |
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SPORTS
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The grounds of the School are fairly extensive and football,
rugby, hockey and cricket are played. Boxing is exceedingly popular and the
School possesses an up-to-date boxing ring. Facilities are also available for
.22 inch and .303 inch |
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LIBRARY
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The School possesses two libraries, technical and fiction and
full use is made of both. |
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HOBBIES
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Facilities exist for many hobbies and the pursuit of suitable
spare-time occupation is encouraged. Among the hobbies and activities catered
for are shooting, cycling, scouting, fishing, photography, amateur dramatics,
music, airplane modelling, carpentry, stamp collecting, dancing and choral
society. |
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VOLUNTARY STUDIES
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In order that apprentices may make the best possible use of their
time in the School, they are encouraged to take up extra studies connected
with their training through the City and Guilds of London Institute. |
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PROGRESS REPORTS
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On reaching their Training Companies, parents or guardians of trainees
are furnished with detailed reports of the progress of their sons or wards
twice yearly, i.e. Christmas and Mid-Summer. |
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HOSPITAL
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There is an excellent |
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SAVINGS GROUP
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The School possesses a Savings Group and all the apprentice
tradesmen are encouraged to contribute. |
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NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT
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Contributions will be paid by apprentice tradesmen under 18 years
of age at is 1s. 9d. |
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We provide white flannels and shirts for
School matches, but are unable to do so for Company games and net practice. A
pair of grey flannels and two white shirts would be a great help. I am sure you will agree that it is
necessary for every boy to have at least eight handkerchiefs. Shortage of
these is most unhygienic and only helps to spread infection. I fully realise the extra expense and
trouble involved, but would be most grateful for your co-operation. Medical Treatment
Before an operation on an Apprentice
Tradesman under the age of 18 years can be performed, it Is necessary for the
consent or the parent or guardian to be obtained. It is hoped such a thing
will not be necessary while your Son/Ward is at the School, but we must be
prepared for such an eventuality. In certain extreme cases, it has been necessary for the Surgical
Specialist to take the responsibility and carry out the operation before this
consent could arrive. In order to avoid instances of this kind, will you please
by completing Pro-forma II (attached) give your consent to an operation being
performed if the Surgeon considers an immediate operation is in the best
interests of the patient. When time permits of your consent being obtained
through the ordinary postal channels the sanction now requested will not be
used. Immediate notification of any operation will of course be sent. Sickness on leave
If at any time your Son/Ward is on leave
and is unable to return on the correct date owing to sickness, etc., you should
inform the Officer Commanding his Company as soon as possible. To prevent hardships you should send in
a Doctor’s Certificate showing the approximate date of his fitness to travel
in order that Ration Cards, Ration Allowance and Pay can be forwarded. Ration cards and allowance cannot be
granted for periods spent in Military or Civil Hospitals. ___________________________________________________________________________________ |
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First Published: 15th October 2006. Latest Update: 1st November 2013. ___________________________________________________________________________________ |
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