Chapter 3
Training could now Commence
To begin it was necessary to learn how to present our kit for muster in accordance with B.R.1938, 1951 edition which we were encouraged to read in its entirety in our spare time to familiarise ourselves with its entire contents covering everything from ship recognition to customs and terminology. Luckily much of this was easily digestable as most of us had a Sea Cadet background and were familiar with the script.
We now proceeded on to lectures covering subjects from Toileting to cleaning clothes. The material was presented in the form of short movies and when the lights went up we were treated to the Divisionl P/O giving instruction on Saluting - Who and Where including any hearse when ashore and carrying a coffin or just mere Admirals sculling about with little else to do.
Then of course there was the daily practice of Marching
Column of Three's, About Turns, Swing those Arms. Eyes Front, Right or Left on command, Salute Left or Right and amongst it all, the INEVITABLE one.
Now Even a civilian should be able to recognise the renegade in the midst - The SAME ARM SAME LEG individual. Well we had ours. It took days to get him into Sync, but thank goodness he managed it in the end or we may have still been marching to this day, much like the Flying Dutchman trying to round the Cape of Good Hope
Once the basics had been mastered things became a little more complicated. We moved on to the Change Direction Right or Left, where a squad moving in line abeast needs to change direction in the same mode.
Well Watching the Guards doing it on Parade for the Queen on her Birfdi gives a good idea of what should be achieved but Apprentices well ?????????
After all this we then proceeded on to performing it all over again but this time carrying a .303 rifle mounted with an 18" bayonet. Luckily as we were to be Non-combatants, the continued use of such a weapon was short lived for eveyones safety
All this was performed of course wearing our " New Serge" suits and within a matter of hours chaffing of the inner thighs had become a considerable problem plus extremely sore feet and blisters from breaking in new " Pussers Boots"
Bed therefore at the end of the day was a "Blessed Release"