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

"SPUD BASHING and TOP BRASS"

We returned to Shoeburyness after a successful firing camp. We were once more on the guard duties, and 'cookhouse fatigues.' Delivering coal, and Sgt’s mess duties ( that was cushy.)  

'Cookhouse fatigues' on the whole meant 'spud bashing.' (Peeling potatoes.) Two men had to fill a huge vat for the following days dinner. The cook Sergeant came in from time to time to check the thickness of the potato peelings, to make sure they were not too thick. If they were, we would soon feel the rough edge of his tongue! Leave soon came around again, and this was some time in September. We had short Leaves in between, but these were spent in London at a mate’s house. One of his neighbours was the film star Joan Rice. I was hoping to see her but I never did. We still went round to Southend when not on duty, but money was scarce. Like a fool I’d started smoking, so money was not lasting very long.

I think I’ve got this right, after six months we got a rise to Regular Army pay, which was two Pounds, Nine shillings a week. We were always ready for Pay Parade! This was every Thursday. We would all line up in three ranks, and our name was called. Spring to 'attention' and salute the paying out Officer!  He handed out the money, and we said “Pay correct Sir.” Give a salute, then walk smartly away to dinner. Several times the pay clerk would announce the Army’s biggest scam...“Today there will be Barrack room damages.”  (Perhaps a shilling stopped from our pay.) Inevitably we would say, “What Barrack room damages?”  There was no damage in any barracks to my recollection. We once lost a small stove shovel while on guard duty. An inventory was done, and with a shovel missing, the guard had to pay for it. “Does Barrack room damages cover it?”  No! We still had to pay.

"TOP BRASS"

We were told that several of us from the different batteries 91-194-220 were to form a guard of honour for a visiting general. I was one of about 45 picked. We drilled under the R.S.M. whose name was Lungley. We drilled with the rifles till our arms were almost dropping off! The sergeant with the R.S.M. said,"He wanted to see blood coming out of our boot laceholes!"  He almost did. Every day, morning till night, we were on the main square: “Form Three Ranks”....“Form Two Ranks”.... “Slope Arms”.... “Present Arms” ....we were doing it in our sleep!

We were all issued with new uniforms for this Parade. The Parade was for the C.I.G.S. (Chief Of The Imperial General Staff)  General John Harding, later to become Sir John Harding, (Harding of Petherton) and Governor of Cyprus.The big day came and went without a hitch. After the inspection he commented  on our drill and smart turnout, and then marched off, with the band playing “The British Grenadier.”