My Life by Lionel Graves. (Page 11)
I used to put pin up pictures on inside of locker doors to distract the officer inspecting and not notice any faults in the folded items inside. On one occasions I had my bayonet frog pinched, the piece of equipment the scabbard fitted into, so I deliberately put a boot askew and out of line and was told off sternly, but the missing frog was not noticed.
While on about equipment I might as well mention uniform. Two khaki battle dress tunics and trousers, a suit of denims or overalls for working on vehicles, three rough khaki shirts, no collars because tunics were buttoned up to the neck. Later on collars and ties were worn and tunic lapels folded back and scrubbed a lighter colour. Three vests, pants and socks, rule being, one on, one in locker and one in laundry. Webbing gaiters, blancoed a greenish colour and worn round ankles and above boots. Two pairs of boots one very highly polished, literally spit and polished.
Webbing equipment, belt, straps, two ammunition pouches, small side haversack, one large pack/haversack carried on back with greatcoat strapped to the outside, a ground sheet, mess tins, eating irons, water bottle, tin helmet and a 3ft high kitbag to carry all ones worldly belongings and the pride of it all, the black beret, because the infantry and rest had a khaki thing.
Once I broke my glasses by dropping a boot on them by my bedside and had to attend a minor court martial. I spun a yarn about advancing across rough country in training, falling and cracking the glasses on a large stone – new replacement pair, no bother!
I was interviewed for an OCTU, Officer Cadet Training Unit and they decided I would make a better trooper, others went to Sandhurst which was used as an OCTU for the tanks, RAC and cavalry, not forgetting recce. A friend Jim Cheetham, from Cleobury Mortimer was sent there.
One special day at camp was Cambrai Day to commemorate the day when large numbers of tanks were used effectively in 1916 in World War 1. The officers and senior NCO's waited on us lowly ranked troops and special food and free beer was served.
Trade tests were given quite frequently and I managed to pass them all, by memorizing things parrot fashion and not knowing why things happened, but follow the rules and they did. At our final passing out parade the C.O. interrupted and tried to change the pace of our drill, the troop sergeant had warned us of this, so we just ignored him and went on to win the best drill competition.
I was then posted to Recce Training Centre in Catterick, Yorkshire with most of my mates. The training was again more intensified we did more driving again in 15ewt Bedford trucks and armoured cars both day and night, once to Whitby where we stayed overnight in nissen huts next to the abbey ruins on the hill. Wireless schemes continued on one exercise we crossed the bridge in Newcastle and I was supposed to be the link between H.Q. and the forward units. I had netted in correctly at the start, but it was a chaotic shambles and all contact was lost both R.T. (voice) and morse. I swear it was the metal bridge that started the trouble but no one could find the real reason why.
We did battle training at Reeth about 6 or 7 miles from Richmond. Spent the morning climbing on disused mill buildings, up and down windows, using just toggle ropes looped together, none of this safety abseiling kit. Jumping out of first floor windows by hanging on the sill with one arm then pushing yourself away from the wall with the other so that you don't scrape your face on the wall and letting go at the same time, landing with a thump. We were supposed to form a human pyramid and climb 12-18ft walls. I was supposed to be one of the last to climb over the rest to reach the top, luckily the pyramid collapsed in a horrible heap while I was half way up and I had a nice soft landing on a pile of bodies. We followed this with a speed march to Reeth carrying rifles and one Bren gun per section, rifles only weighed 9lbs but the Bren was 22lbs, I think. It was the hottest day of the year and quite a few fell by the wayside but our squad managed to complete it altogether, I must admit that the Bren was going up and down the line like a dose of salts towards the end. My feet had blisters the size of florins. The pints of half and half, half bitter, half mild, were the sweetest drinks of our lives that evening.
Email: Lionel Graves (lionel@graf-tek.com).
Copyright ©2000-2008 L. Graves. All Rights Reserved.
