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My father has fond memories of his time at Arborfield, some of which he would like to share with
you.
He joined in the October 1939 intake at 14 and half
years of age. He always points out that he thinks he was one of the
youngest people in the army at the start of WW2 and therefore will still be
the youngest alive today! (He will be 90 this March).
He has many memories but one particular one is his favourite. He recalls RSM Cook who was quite stern
and demanded the upmost respect. One particular day, near the cook house
there was a donkey/ horse attached to the swill cart. On leaving the parade
ground RSM Cook saw the swill cart with a somewhat dejected looking donkey.
He stopped and looked at the donkey and shouted 'shun, shun' (short for
ATTENTIION) two or three times! Obviously the donkey paid no attention and
just stood there, so he slapped it with his stick and walked off! This was
typical of RSM Cook. Everyone was scared stiff of him as his demeanour was so ferocious to a 14 year old boy.
Another anecdote is when we went 'digging for
victory', which was growing your own crops, RSM Cook would make us dig a
trench for the potatoes, he would inspect the trenches to ensure all were
perfectly straight and then the potatoes would be planted exactly the same
distance apart so they all grew liked uniformed soldiers!
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