Now at - 91st.Battery - 63rd. HAA Regiment / Royal Regiment of Artillery

"ON PARADE!"

We had been in the Army for about three weeks, and were on the Regimental Parade Ground when the R.S.M. came striding towards us. He had a word with Sgt. Cavell, who then told us that King George the Sixth had died. This was on the sixth of February. 1952. We were given the rest of the day off, and told to do some work on our boots, darn socks, and blancoing etc. We could not leave camp until we had completed our ‘Passing Out’ Parade. So that was out of the question. The day after the King died we had our first deserter. I remember his name but will not reveal it. He was in one of the downstairs rooms, his bed had been slept in, and all his equipment was left behind. He had simply disappeared.

Some of our N.C.O's said the Military Police would soon have him back, but they never did. Of course we were all asked if we knew anything about his disappearance, but no one knew anything.

That was the only deserter we had.

The daily drilling, the barrack room inspections, and the route marches carried on until we came to our sixth week of training. By this time we had been given a new Instructor, L/Bdr. Peter Green. (See the full picture, with L/Bdr. Green, and L/Bdr. Phillips.) Phillips was not one of our instructors, I think he just happened to be passing by.

Pete was immaculate, he would put any guardsman to shame. It looked as if his uniform had been made on Saville Row! He was always well turned out.

The day of our Passing Out Parade came, and as we had all been given our Lanyards, we  knew that if we came through this parade we would be able to go out of the camp.

The history of the Lanyard  can be found on several sites on the Internet. We were told that the Lanyard which we wore on our right shoulders, and fastened to our ‘Jack knives’ in our right breast pocket, was used for firing field guns many years ago. White and braided, it was also used to ‘decorate’ the uniform. We would white blanco ours. It wasn’t always braided. Some Gunners I saw had two white pieces of cord, and these were also Lanyards. Some said the white was for cowardice, in that the gunners ran from their guns, but this is quite untrue. We were told that twelve lanyards fastened together could assist in gunners ‘spiking’ their guns if they were overrun. As I say, a better explanation is on the Royal Artillery site.

“Passing Out” Parade.

We were all ‘Bulled’ and spruced up. To all soldiers, this first 'Passing Out' Parade was a big day. We were all on the Parade Ground. Officers including the C.O. (Commanding Officer) were in attendance. We had to do certain drill movements, then we all marched passed the C.O. who gave the salute.

All we wanted was the Band, and we’d have been well away! So now we had permission to go out at the weekend! Everyone knew about the different pubs in Southend On Sea. This was about 3 miles away, and a well known sea-side resort with the longest pier in the world. We had heard from other soldiers about The Ivy House, The Hole In The Wall, The Criterion, and also The Kursall, for Saturday night dancing. I went along with three other 'squadies' and called in at The Ivy House for a pint. Remember it was still only early March, so it was fairly quiet, but we enjoyed it all the same.

Days passed to weeks, and we had another Parade to show our drill skills with the .303 rifle; sloping arms, presenting-order-port arms. That went off alright. Again we marched past the C.O. I go now to the beginning of April,to our first leave home. Some had been given 48 hour passes, especially those who were close to home. Living in Doncaster was too far to travel in those days. We lined up and were inspected by our troop officer, and with a warning to us all not to be back late from our ten day leave, we were off to the Railway Station!  Going into London (which was 40 miles away)  then riding on the Tube,  Northern Line to Kings Cross, and from there to Doncaster.

- Homecoming -

I arrived home in my uniform, and  Mother cried and said I’d put weight on. Dad shook hands, and took my Beret off and tried it on. Dad was a former Guard, i.e. Home Guard. I went up to see Pam, but she was in hospital at Leeds having a mastoid operation. I went the following day, and by then she’d had the operation and was doing fine, but  couldn’t  come out until I went back to the Barracks.

We went back off leave to Hand Grenade throwing!  We had another N.C.O. as an instructor with Sgt. Cavell. His name was Bdr. Williams (pseudonym) We were taught to throw dummy hand grenades over a high line between two posts. One lad throwing over arm, and let go of the grenade as his arm was drawn back. I still don’t know how it happened, but the grenade shot back and hit Williams fair on the head! It raised a right bump on his head. He was sent up to Sick Bay and told to rest. Quite a bit of talk about it and of course, being the Army, a few smiles as well...