Mémoire
- George A. MILLIE
Comments – Dave Perrott
First Days:
- I arrived on Friday 9th September and
my first meal I well remember was a lump of smoked haddock.
- I was interested in your problems with physical exercise.
For several years I had been carrying hundredweight sacks of coal and
coke; this meant that a kit bag was not a huge challenge.
- You mention second helpings. Wasn't there
occasionally a stampede for an extra slice of N.A.A.F.I. cake?
- Don't forget the disgusting practice of mopping
the egg or bacon fat from those large metal trays they were served
from.
- After dumping plates and trays we washed mugs and
eating irons in those huge steam-heated tanks of water.
- I had the idea that I only drew two bob a week,
not four.
- Perhaps gaiter weights and slashing peaks are
worth a mention.
Square
Bashing:
- The intake was divided into Squads using boys of
similar height. The practice of so-called ‘poor drill’ leading to Lofty
Thornton & Tucker, or two other unfortunates, being swapped over for
the amusement of the instructors. Quite fortunate for me being roughly
of average height.
- ”You're a moron, laddie!”
(or some other derogatory name) followed by:
“What are you?” “I'm a moron, Sergeant.”
- Did we not do a series of tests1 probably just at the end of H.Q.? Some
of those funny: "What does this ink blot remind you of?” type of
test. Picking numbers or letters out of patterns for colour
blindness2. “Answer these
hundred questions in ten minutes”. It was the result of these tests
that contributed towards my choosing to become a Tele Mech; I was there to be a Vehicle Mech, but they appealed to my vanity by saying I was
too bright to be a V.M. - I'm a sucker for a kind word. McColl I believe was offered the same but
knew what he wanted - I think he was an ‘A’ Coy V.M. but he doesn't show
on your chart3.
- You didn't mention money and fag rackets: loan a
shilling for two bob back on payday; five fags for ten back; and so on.
- Punishment drill and the usual poor performance
of the victims which led to the inevitable trip to the
ploughed land at the top of the square, and the pleasure derived
from making them mark time, especially after rain.
Divisions
2 to 6:
- Fred Hall was the instructor who formed the Radio
Club; his call sign was G3HBU4,
but I don't remember the Club’s call sign.
- Could the unknown in the classroom photograph be
Philips5?
- You mention beds post-lights out. What about the
cotton method of ejecting several sets of mess tins into orbit from the
locker tops.
- ”Wakey Wakey rise and shine; show me yours and I'll show
you mine.” ”Hands off Cocks. On socks!”
- Wasn't there also a Workshop Punishment period on
Wednesday evenings for bad work or behaviour?
- Maybe more on billet cleaning; such endearing
practices as Brasso-ing buckets,
and weapons of mass destruction i.e. bumpers.
NOTES:
1 I.Q.
Test.
2 Colour Perception Test.
3 The AAS
Record Card for A. McColl indicates that
he was a Vehicle Mechanic in ‘B’ Company.
4 Dave Perrott was inspired to write:
|
The Pirate
Fred
Hall is legalised at last,
No
skull and crossbones top his mast.
He
now transmits without a fear,
He’s
paid his thirty bob this year.
His
call-sign G3HBU
Blasts
through the ether calm and blue.
|
5 K.
Phillips
|
