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Learning my Trade
To
set the picture, in 1939 Mechanical Vehicles, that were petrol driven were
in their infancy and development stage. Firms like Vauxhall producing
Bedford lorries, Fords, Morris and Austin plus many smaller firms were
producing cars and other vehicles, while specialist firms produced buses,
ambulances and fire engines for the civilian market.
In
September 1939 World War II was declared which meant that all the vehicles
being produced were compulsorily purchased and all production was stepped
up for the military market. That's where I would be needed to be trained
to repair, service and drive all these types of vehicles in the Army. The
Royal Army Service Corps was responsible for Army Transport having its own
Workshops and Technical
School. This was
situated in Jersey at St Peter's Barracks
in which I was sent for my training as a Vehicle Mechanic.
During
July 1939 I sat the Army Entrance Examination at Somerset Light Infantry
Barracks at Taunton,
and in August 1939 was informed I had passed and was to enlist into the
Royal Army Service Corps. I was given a railway warrant to report to
Southampton Docks on 30 August 1939 to travel to Jersey.
This was to be the last time for several years that I would be in civvy
clothes for I would have to wear an Army uniform. At Southampton Docks I
met up with about a hundred lads, all in a similar situation, to travel by
overnight boat to St.Helier in Jersey.
Here we found buses were waiting to take us to St. Peter's Barracks next to
the island airport. This is where our training was to begin and I was
issued with a uniform and an Army Number of T/88178 with the rank of
Apprentice Tradesman.
The training was to comprise of:
1.
Military regimental training - this was six weeks marching and drilling on
a drill square learning the discipline of obeying orders.
2.
Trade training for this I was training to be a vehicle mechanic. This was
to be a course of theory and practical, starting off with making a variety
of test pieces out of steel, six in all.
3.
Physical training to develop our bodies. This included exercises in the
gym, cross country running, sports, football etc.
4.
Educational training this continued our schooling for we had to sit the
Army Certificate of Education Second Class, which I passed in December
1939. Then I started to study for my First Class Certificate of Education
and passed Geography towards it.
I
joined the church choir and attended services regularly having always been
used to being in a choir and attending St.Judes Church in Weston-super-Mare. I was confirmed by the Bishop of Bath and Wells in a
service in March 1940 in the local garrison church.
When
we arrived in Jersey, our group of about
100 boys joined another 150 who had arrived, some in 1939 and others
earlier in 1938. They were advanced in their training and these were the ones
we had to compete with. Now at the age of 14 years and 3 months the Army is
going to make a soldier and a trained technician out of me. That's what
I've been told, little did I realize what this would entail. I was only
4'8" height and weighed 761bs. I didn't have much going for me having
just left school. It soon was to change. I was away from home, in another
environment with the reputation of being one of the smallest soldiers in
the Army. For this I was being paid eleven pence a day six shillings and
five pence a week of which we would be paid two shillings, the rest going
to our credit for when we went on leave, unless we made an allowance to our
parents. The two shillings had to cover cost of boot polish, and metal
polish etc. for cleaning our kit, and any balance for tea/cakes at the
NAAFI Canteen plus on occasion six pence for the cinema.
During
the first week of our arrival we were given a sheet of brown paper and some
string. This was to pack up our civilian clothes we came to Jersey in and send them back home. Why? I never
understood for they would never fit me again when I did get home.
After
we were allocated our accommodation we attended a parade outside the
Quartermaster's Stores to be kitted out. In large groups we were ushered
inside, though it was a small building and cramped for space the service
was not of premium quality. Indeed pieces of the equipment and articles of
clothing were simply thrown at us and it was indeed a gamble as to whether
or not our uniforms fitted properly. Few could describe it as "made to
measure", mostly they just clung on us, and me being small mine was
like a shroud. On making a comment to this effect I was given a sharp
retort "You're in the Army now lad, get the camp tailor to make the
alterations. "We were mystified by some of the accoutrements known as
stick button, strap chin, housewife and dog collar, but were soon to be
enlightened as to why these were included in the kit issue. The only
dangerous weapon we signed for was a swagger cane, used mainly for drill
practice this had to be kept highly polished.
Once
we had collected all this kit and deposited it in our locker, we had to
parade at the Barber shop. After what we heard about army style haircuts
from the senior boys it was not without some trepidation. It was my turn
for short back and sides. The French hairdresser set about clipping the
hair on my right side of my head as if he was intent on cutting off as much
in the shortest possible time. He snipped away until he realized in his
eagerness my parting had disappeared. On making my observation to him I
found he couldn't speak English or even understand it. He seemed to
consider it for a few moments and unsure what to do approached his elder
colleague for advice. He also was French and after a noisy discussion and
expressive gesticulations they evidently reached a unanimous decision, his
scissors poised ominously at the ready he returned to my half shorn head
and to my consternation proceeded to enact the same treatment to the other
side. I know the orders were to cut our hair short so there was little
point in complaining any more to him. I did to the sergeant major on coming
out and was duly marched in before the second in command Captain Campbell
who duly remarked "it will grow again" it did take time though.
I did take some ribbing from the other lads.
Discipline
was strict, the first six weeks was spent on the square sorting out our
left from our right. It was often unpleasant to drill under the hot sun but
the sharp tongue of the drill instructor was even more unbearable to us
"wee lads". Quick march about turn to the right salute, Halt.
The orders came loud and in quick succession. Often I thought it was to
confuse us as the stentorian voice goaded us into better efforts. We had to
endure continual rebuke and seldom did we receive praise for our efforts.
One
of the drill instructors was C.S.M. Charlie Russell. He had a reputation on
the parade ground for brusqueness but under his tough exterior he was a
very understanding and likeable character. We all admired him and if we had
a problem he was the one we turned to first for advice, help or sympathy.
When he was frustrated by our sloppy display he was liable to throw his
stout stick as far as he could across the Drill Square. As it sailed through
the air on an erratic course he would yell sternly "Boy" pointing
a stubby finger at one of us "Fetch me that stick, on the
double!" As the boy hared off after it he would give the rest of the
squad a dressing down using some choice army expressions, including his
favourite "You are like silk stockings full of diarrhoea". We
never took offence at these caustic remarks. He was having his bit of fun
and we took it in our stride.
Another
sergeant a strict disciplinarian was also an absolute fanatic on spit and
polish and at all times demanded an immaculate turnout from every boy at
the school. His eagle eye, so rumour went, could spot a chin strap the
wrong way round on a service dress peaked cap, from one side of the parade
ground to the other. The tiny brass rivet, which held the buckle on the
strap had to be buttoned to the left side of the hat.
It
was with relief that after the six weeks square bashing under this rigorous
training came to an end and it was on to workshop practice. Even these
instructors were strict and any misdemeanour, talking or not working meant
a run round the drill square carrying a tool box as a punishment we
didn't do this too often. These instructors seemed to forget we were out
there for we would have to keep going round the square until we were called
in. We certainly learnt the hard way. Everywhere we went in the camp we
would have to parade and march. It was to parade with our mug, knife, fork
and spoon for every meal and march to our section of the Mess. The meals were
always good so we never had reason to complain even if we dared.
Besides
periods of drill and physical training we apprentices were required to
attend school lessons in map reading and general subjects. In due course,
most of the boys passed the Army second class certificate of Education
examination and some even went on for their First Class. Religious
instruction was compulsory and so were church parades on a Sunday when you
just had to be immaculate.
For
recreational activities it was cross country running, this was across the
sand dunes at St. Peters
down to La Corbiere lighthouse and back to St. Owens with no sign of any
females en route. On occasions double decker buses took us into St. Helier to the pictures and then it was straight
back to the barracks. We were always in uniform having to be inspected at
the Guard Room before we could leave the barracks. It was an achievement,
close to a miracle to pass inspection at the first attempt. Then to the
satisfaction of the Provost Sergeant we were allowed out, though our choice
of places were strictly limited for the few hours of freedom. It could be
stroll down to Red Houses or St. Brelades or down to St. Ouns Bay, this was
a quiet beach with no amusements or bronzed girls soaking up the sun on the
golden sands. We dare not get dirty for we had to enter the barracks in the
same condition as we went out, and we were usually checked by the Provost
staff and often searched to make sure we did not bring any cigarettes in as
we were not allowed to smoke.
We
also learnt what trumpet calls meant and what happened if they were not
obeyed. Reveille the first of the day which meant you were out of bed
before it finished sounding or else. Breakfast call came next, calling in
to parade to go to the cookhouse. By this time everyone was washed and
shaved. Beds made up, kit all cleaned and polished and dressed. After
breakfast it was back to the room for final tidy and ready for the parade
to take us on to the square. We always learnt to be ready five minutes
before the trumpet call to be inspected by our room N.C.O. This was the
first of the inspections of the day followed by one from the House
Sergeant. The trumpet call then came calling us on to the square each
house marching on in order. It was then the turn of the Sgt. Major to
inspect us followed by one of Commanding Officers and if any fault was
found we were in deep trouble luckily this did not happen to me but others
were not so fortunate.
The
mail call was a popular one coming anytime in the morning letting us know
that letters had arrived from home always hoping one was for me. These in
turn was given out by the Post Corporal at dinnertime. We did get a break
in the morning for a cup of Ovaltine and me being small and underweight I
was entitled to a lump of barley sugar. This did the trick for I put on
weight and grew a little taller though I still remained one of the
smallest.
By
now we had got into the routine of the barracks with Commandants
Inspections once a week. Room floors had to be cleaned and polished with
the red linoleum down the centre gleaming after being scrubbed and buffed.
Beds on that day had to be made up "ARMCHAIR FASHION". This
comprised of folding the blankets round the "biscuits" coir
mattresses, two for the seat and one for the back support. The final touch
was the pillow, it was hard and round and when lightly rolled in a sheet
and a blanket to its exact length it was placed on the seat behind the back
support where it looked like a gigantic Swiss Roll. Then when we had
completed our preparations for the inspection, one would see two precise
rows of armchair beds adorned with immaculately polished boots and
burnished Mess Tins. Low and behold if any fault was found, if any were
found it was a repeat performance that evening for the next morning. This
didn't happen too often.
Once
these weeks of intensive drill were completed and we had settled into the
education exams it was to start in the Workshops. We were now to spend
hours at a bench learning to handle tools and making test pieces. Our first
task was to make a male and female square out of piece of steel four inches
by three inches and a half inch thick. The surface had to be filed fiat and
one long edge chipped fiat and level. The other edges had to be filed fiat
and to the exact dimensions required. Once this was done to the
satisfaction of the instructor it was to mark out and cut a one inch square
out of the middle. When this was achieved another one inch square of steel
was fabricated to fit into the square hole already cut. This had to be just
a push fit all sixteen ways which got us into using a rule and vernier
gauge. We were checked at every stage by the instructor with a micrometer
to his satisfaction. Once this piece had been completed we progressed onto
a male and female sliding dovetail slightly more complicated and then on
to cutting a square on the end of a round bar to fit into the one inch
square hole on our first test piece. Our final piece was to make a small
hand vice out of steel which was to be a part of our toolkit.
I
got into this very well, but then now had to start getting familiar with
vehicles. Our training vehicles was Morris C.D. petrol six wheeled
articulated of which one was stripped right down to the chassis and the
engine and other units sectionised to see how they worked. It was at this
stage our technical training was to start with the theory side.
To Be Continued in Part Two
First Published: 15th November 2008
Latest Update: 1st December 2008
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  Part Two
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