MEMORIES

Part 1 – Junior Wing

A date in Sep of 1964 Now in the Army aged not quite 16
As pre-planned and arranged I travelled to Newton Abbot with limited belonging in an old case by train,  journey of roughly 7 miles from my home.

I looked about for someone or something of a military nature and spotted a large portly Sergeant dressed in military uniform.  He approached me and asked,  “if I was for Denbury?”   I said, “yes”.   He pointed to a long green bus which I boarded.

There were 2 other lads on the bus.   We introduced each other.   They were from Taunton.   Once the bus was full it set off for Denbury camp just a few miles from Newton Abbot ‘Floggit’  as Newton Abbot became to be called by us squaddies.

Arrival at Denbury

We were taken to an admin block by a L/Cpl where we had all our personal details recorded.   Another L/Cpl took us to accommodation block where we were split in to groups.

In the rooms we were met by a Cpl.   He informed us that he was to be our billet Cpl.

Our billet

Cpl allocated us bed spaces which consisted of a bed a wardrobe metal locker and a bedside locker.

There were 12 bed spaces to the room.  6 each side of a lino strip down the middle of the room.  The Lino strip had metal edges screwed each side.   This central strip was later to become quite focal to our regime here at Denbury.

Bedding

Cpl took us to the bedding store where we were issued with bedding required as part of our training needs.  The bedding required was all rolled up in to the mattress which we had to carry back to our bed spaces.  For this was  real struggle.   How I managed without dropping anything I do not know.

Kit issue

Cpl took us to the QM stores where we were measured up, sized and issued with our kit as it is called.  As a suitcase was part of the kit issue it was not so bad to carry everything back to our bed spaces copying each other as to the easiest way to carry things such as wearing some of it and tying boots together and hanging them round our neck to make carrying other things easier.  I thought what the F have I let myself in for and the 2 week trial period was on my mind which was a way out if you did not like things a bit premature at this stage though.   We all made it back to our bed spaces (Pits as they were known as in military jargon).

Kit lay out/bed packs

Cpl showed us how to lay our kit out on to the beds each day which included bed packs.  This was performed by ensuring that your bed had a blanket on the mattress made with hospital corners.  The bed pack was then made by sandwiching the 2 sheets folded neatly between the remaining blankets all folded up neatly like a sandwich inside another blanket wrapped the lot with the sheets and blankets inside the sandwich exposed for inspection of the bed pack.

The rest of your issued kit was then laid out on the bed.  It included your razor and KFS Knife Fork and Spoon; the KFS became in army jargon known as diggers.

All the above had to be completed prior to breakfast parade at 0700.  We were informed that Reveille would be at 0600.

We were informed that on Sunday’s Reveille would be at 0700 with no need to lay the kit out but make the beds as normal.

The idea of the kit laid on the bed in smart laid out discipline manner was to ensure that no one returned to lay on their pits during the day.  The bed layout had to remain in place all day through the day.

1 or 2 of the lads would sleep on the floor to save time in not having to lay their bed kit out each day.

Sundays

We were confined to camp.  It consisted of a church parade where the none CE denominations were split to worship in their own faith elsewhere.

It was noted by the priest that I had not been confirmed therefore for a few Sundays after I had been asked if I wanted to be and attended confirmation classes with the priest along with a couple of other recruits which followed by having the honour of being confirmed by THE REVERAND TUBBY CLAYTON (of TOC H fame)

On Sunday afternoons we had a sports game.   Normally football after which we could relax by time to ourselves letter writing or in most cases preparing kit for the general daily training life.  This first few Sundays brought close comradery between some of us plus a few tears from some of the guys.

(What I did observe was that I was the same in bones and flesh as everyone else.  We all dressed the same with the same treatment from staff for us all.   I was an equal with not standing out due to my previous not so good attire.  The posh kids were the same as the deprived back ground kids.  This attitude and way of life was soon to be the making of me.

Take away the privileges from everyone and treat them all the same in my book works.  I used this to great effective results all my life from that day to this.

Meals

As the new intake we were known as nigs (New Intake group Shit) and were marched to meals as a group with our KFS and mug held in our left hands behind our backs.  We were led to the front of the queue.   We made our own way back to the billet.

On our first visit to the cookhouse for breakfast the catering staff (ACC) took the piss out of us by calling us girls names like Sheila Rosemary Mary plus other names not so nice.  They were ordered to shut up by their boss on duty a QMSI.  They continued with the piss taking although much quieter.

Most of the remarks were made at me as I had not had my long hair cut which was down to my shoulders.  The other guys had the sense to have at least had their hair trimmed.   I retaliated by saying at least I don’t beat eggs for a living.  This brought remarks like Cheeky C*nt’ cocky bastard plus other comments.  One cook hit the mark with the comment to me that I would not be so cocky when I lost my locks of hair (How true that was).

Cpls Lecture

Our billet Cpl gave us a talk about life on the camp and how we were expected to behave and speak to people.  (This was the beginning of teaching me how to behave as a disciplined human being.).

Cpl was leaning against a bed with a mug of tea in one hand as he was talking to us.  I had the urge to place my own tea spoon in to his mug of tea.   Cpls face went bright red and he went silent and glared at me.  For me this required a response so I remarked, “what’s up do you want it stirring as well”.   I then proceeded to stir the tea.  The room fell silent.  Cpl exploded in anger and shouted at me, “look Gardner – we are not supposed to charge anyone before they have been here for 4 weeks so just you be careful”.   I removed the spoon and replied,  “yes Cpl” (I knew that I was on the road to being observed a little closer.

Group Sergeants Interview

As soon as I walked in to the interview room which was a 1to1 interview Sergeant said to me (Gardner you and I are going to fall out.   No matter how much I shout at you don’t let it get you down).  Sergeant in the near future would have me in tears.

1^st Evening

Cpl informed us what kit to have prepared for the morning.  It included Denim trousers, shirts itchy khaki type, boots and our beret’s.  We used an ironing room to iron our required clothing and polished our boots.  Our beret’s later had to be shaped to our head with the cap badge facing above the left eye.  The shaping was done by soaking the beret in water then shaping it to required fit on the head.  Then placing it on the radiator to dry in that shape.

Issued Boots

We had 2 pairs of boots.  One pair of which were to be known as our ‘best boots’.  These had to be bulled.   Which meant first of all removing the pimples from them.  This was done by use of a spoon heated on a candle then dipping it in polish and burning the pimples off of the boots.  This was very tedious.  One lad who had a military back ground had brought an old iron for the job (smart ass).

Once all the pimples were removed the boots were then covered in polish followed by being bullied by dipping a cloth in water then you had wrapped round an index finger.  You then rubbed the boot with the cloth covered finger to bring up a shine on the boots; it took ages. Only the heels and toe caps had to be bulled; but they had to be brought up to a mirror shine; some of the lads managed to get an all over shine to the uppers aswell.

The best boots were brought up to standard over a number of weeks which meant weekends doing nothing ‘but bulling boots’.

Some guys tried varnish sprays, which although sort of worked it was not up to the NCOs standards and along with other boots left out for inspection on the beds with other kit.  The boots would be seen flying through the air out of the window as sergeant or Cpl threw them out of the window as not being up to spec.

My Ammo Boots

Wanting to impress I bought myself a pair of ammo boots which were steel toe capped and had metal heels and a leather sole that you could hammer studs in to.  The studs had to be placed in a uniform manner.   Although I was praised for my initiative the downside was that when on drill or just marching with a group my darn hobnail boots could be heard striking the ground which of course meant that I had to get my heels clouting the ground in time to ensure I was not out of step.   The guys with their DMS boots on did not have this problem due to the soft rubber boots.   I soon got the praise deserved though as sergeant would shout out, “listen to Junior Signalman Gardner’s boots for correct timing”.   I felt quite proud, although the lads must have thought quite different of me.

Reveille 1^st time

What a shock!  I had never been woken up in such a manner in my life.  it was 0600 and Cpl was screaming and shouting round the room banging and kicking lockers and beds.  I recalled the previous day when I still had 2.5 hrs sleep before the need to get up.   (From this experience in to the future with the military.   I made a firm decision that there was no need to be woken in this manner for my area of responsibility as I gained promotion.  I looked upon this sort of thing as bullying activity, instead I arranged for my soldiers that I was in charge of to be at a certain point at a certain time and not to be there without all the persons that should be there unless they could inform me why not (it worked for me).

We all got up from our pits and went to the ablutions room for wash shave and or a shower or bath.  No chance of a bath if you wanted to be ready on time. (I soon learned that I needed to be up before others to get a shower before the rush of others and I was normally one of the first to be ready.)

I put on my itchy khaki shirt along with the rest of my required uniform which by the way included ‘drawers Dracula’ as they were know; these were army issue underpants which in reality looked like a plastic shopping bag with leg holes that you tied up with string attached to them to keep them up.  They were horrid things but you were not allowed to wear any others as part of the discipline regime.  If you were spotted during any changing of clothes during ablutions or gymnasium you were disciplined which normally meant a fine which was taken from your pay in those early days.

Morning Rush

Some of us were only part way through making our bed packs when Cpl shouts,  “all nigs outside for breakfast”.  He then marched us all up to the cook house with our diggers and mugs clasped in our left hands behind our backs.  As normal we were led to the front of the Queue.

After breakfast and making our own way back to the billet to finish our bed packs and block jobs (Duties of cleaning taps sinks corridor windows floor lamp shades.  All had to be kept spotless by taking in turns at each task on a rota basis as on a notice on the room notice board; we soon learned easy ways of completing tasks by use of newspaper on the windows and a damp cloth for dusting; we would chip in for polish and dusters to assist our future cleaning needs).  Teamwork was the key. (This regime again helped my future way in life.)

Central lino strip

This was fitted down the middle of the room between 6 beds on each side of it.  We had to apply thick polish to it then use a big heavy metal weighted brush known as a BUMBER BRUSH.  The bumper brush had a long handle on it with a swivel link in the middle of it; we took turns in swinging it up and down on the lino to bring it up to specifications; a big cloth was used to bring up a better shine; if ever it got scuff marks or dirt ground in to it; it had to be scrubbed down with wire wool and paraffin (Would not be allowed these days due to H/S rules).

Once the lino was up to required finish none of us would stand on it.  We would step or jump over it.  When polishing it we wore socks so as not to scuff it.  To give extra weight to the bumper sometimes we would get a small guy to sit on it then 2 guys would swing the thing to polish the lino.

We all helped each other if a particular job was taking longer than expected (Teamwork learned).

First room inspection

All block jobs completed and kit laid out as required.  We were as ordered by Cpl stood to attention by our beds with our booted toes against the edge of the highly polished Lino.

Cpl ordered us not to even blink or twitch as Sergeant entered the room and stepped on to our prized polished lino.

Sergeant looked about the room as he stepped down our lino looking each lad in the eye and inspecting all he could see.  He remarked on various inadequacies as he thought/observed which Cpl noted on a clip board which after Sergeant left the room Cpl bollocked us for each and every detail that Sergeant was not happy with.

Cpl then advised us that due to the sloppy cleaning and bad layout look of our kit that we would have a bull night in tonight.  That meant no visit to the NAAFI or allowed out at all;.  We had to stay in and work extra hard to  bring the block up to required inspection standards.  A thing here was that some lads were good at some jobs better than others and we all used our natural skills to help each other (another good thing learned).

Once we as a group decided the room and our kit was ready we asked Cpl to inspect it.  It was now about 2100 at night.

Pissed off as most of us were if Cpl spotted anything which we put right.  We all accepted things as we had all volunteered.

My Bed pack incident

On one inspection I thought I had been really smart.   I had purchased some safety pins and used them to pull the blanket around my bed pack tight.  It all looked good until that is the SSM who was carrying out the inspection placed a hand inside to check if I had used cardboard as a trick some of the lads used to make the bed packs look good.   I felt quite good as I had not.   The SSM Yelped as he pricked his fingers on one of the safety pins in my bed pack.   He screamed out, “Gardner Devonshire born Devonshire bred thick in the arm thick in the head”. (Some of the lads gave a chuckle which lead to my bed pack flying out of the window.)   We had a good laugh about it together later.

Haircuts

Later that 1^st morning we were taken for a Geronimo.  The name given to the regimental barber (Geronimo by the way was an Indian chief back in American history who scalped white men).

3 lads had their hair cut before me and when I saw the state of their head after the Geronimo I realised how he got his name.

My turn and to see the locks I once had tumble to the floor was gut wrenching.  I couldn’t comb anything for 3 weeks.   Then it had to be cut again.

Some of the lads paid for a decent haircut in town and some after that were ordered for a Geronimo or having hair too long or a Boston square cut.  I just lived with things and got it cut when needed as required.

Education

After the Geronimo haircuts we were marched over to the Nigs education block.  We were given exams in maths and English and split in to 2 groups for education classes.

I recall during one of the talks in the education block one of the instructors mentioned that to have America as an ally was the kiss of death.

Sport

Every Wed afternoon we played a sport which was nearly always chosen by us even our group sergeant joined in.  It was good to be part of a team and not left out as I had been in my previous days when with other lads prior to enlisting.   I found that the equal treatment brought things out in me that were dormant, and I started to learn respect for others from different walks of life. (Now no one was left out or if for some reason they were the reason was investigated for a cure.)

Drill

This was taken by our group Sergeant.   I am sure he had his own dictionary He used to shout comments at us such as, “you’re standing there like a big wet wank” or “you’re like a Piccadilly penguin with an orange stuffed up your ass”.

Sergeant sent some of us off of the drill square.  In my case he screamed at me, “get off my square you are not fit to be on it”.   I ran off back to my pit.   I heard Sergeant shouting to the others, “there goes Gardner crying his head off”.  He was right I was.   I was mad at myself for not being able to perform my drill as required.  Later I became as good as the others.  Sergeant had accomplished his task.

Weekends

Not allowed off camp for the first few weeks so after breakfast on the weekends if you wanted breakfast that is as it was our free day other than the church parade.

“We all went to dinner making our own way on a Sunday.  In the cookhouse there was a separate room for the salad meals.   I used to go for a cooked meal followed by a salad meal when I felt particularly hungry.

Most of us brought a brew back in our tin mugs.

On Saturday afternoons we played a sport which if not playing we were obligated to watch.  We soon discovered who was good at which sport.  The football was not for me although I joined in when required and enjoyed the fitness training – (fitness would play a major part of my military life in time to come).

Sunday evenings

A choice of TV or going to the NAAFI or sorting kit or letter writing or reading.

The NAAFI

Stands for Navy Army Airforce Institution.  It was a big shop and refreshment bar.   No alcohol sold.  We could attend this place to relax and buy a sticky bun or cold or hot drinks or snacks plus play table tennis or billiards/ snooker.  It was a cool place to chill out. (No girls there though other than the NAAFI staff.  The lads would drool over any of the female’s staff if they were fit or even not so fit in some cases (Beds shaking in the dark at night would wake us as some of us thought of girls).

Love Life

As yet for my sexual conquest had passed me by.  Looking and  a feel followed by a smacked ear was as close as I had got to previously with girls prior to joining up.  My love life would take off with a bang in many ways as yet to be noted.

NAAFI Dances

On a regular basis once a month girls from Floggit (Newton Abbot were bussed in to the camp to attend the disco).  What a treat for us.  We all ensured we had our normal shower and put on our best pulling civvies (clothes) and off we went to the NAAFI dance.  I only went once and felt I did not fit (I do not know why) time in to the future will show how my shyness would disappear along with my lack of confidence.  I was soon to become a real cocky twat with a big ego.  All due to the military input it produced the output of a man from a boy.

Tears come to my eyes as I recall my street urchin young life on the streets of London and Torquay plus life in the homes and the horrid s—– acts against me as a smaller child.  That was all behind me and I was going to show the world what I was made of as I believed at the time. 

Letters (Encouraged to write home as the military did not like worried parents phoning in with concerns about their siblings)

After a couple of weeks and settled in to the routine of things.   I started to get bored (something that would stand out for the rest of my life not being able to do nothing was a total irritant to me.   I had to be doing something; or I would react in a way that could cause issues due to my boredom.  This would be seen in many ways in to the future for me.)

I started writing to everyone I could think of that I knew and liked  (especially the Girls.   I looked forward to having replies.)

All mail was left on your pit bed by morning break  Sometimes your bed would have a pile of mail on.  After reading through our mail we would chat about our private lives;.  Some of the lads would become upset by news from home.  Tears would often flow or someone would kick or punch a locker because of the news.

Dear Johns

These were letters dumping the young squaddie by his girlfriend;.  Often the lad would cry but we would all deliberately laugh and grab the guy and clown with him followed by pinning the dear John letter on to the notice board.  This normally worked and brought the lad back to reality.  We had a ritual of burning dear Johns in a metal waste bin.

I never had a dear john until I was in Germany. (Due to my not having a girlfriend) By then I had a few girls I knew anyway writing to me and to be honest although a bit upset I stuck it on the notice board and deliberately informed the troop members to have a read then burned it as normal practice and got on with the reality of life.

One lad Scouse guy called  B—- (we nicknamed him P——-  B—-) he never received any mail.  This was noted by the troop Cpl and Sergeant.  I believe by the admin staff as well.  He was interviewed privately  The rest of us were then asked to befriend him a little as best as we could.  It turned out the lad was from a broken home.  This brought concern to me as I recalled my own early childhood.  I asked him if he would like to write to my sister? he said yes please.  So I contacted —– my sister and they exchanged letters.  I got a pat on the back from Sergeant for this, although I was not wanting credit just the genuine need to see a fellow human being happy.

My actions in trying to link —– up with Junior Signalman B—- backfired on me on my first weekend home.   I took P——- —– with me to meet —– at the local bowling alley although they got on she wanted nothing more to do with him cos he was a s—– —– individual.  Oh hell she dumped him and stopped writing to him. (Such is life)

Fitness

We had 2/3 periods of PT per week.  We went to the gym in works dress carrying our PT kit in rolled up towels.  We were issued with 3 towels 2 green and 1 white.  All towels used for us had to be the same colour for each class.  The idea was that we had 1 towel in use; 1 in the wash and 1 spare (never a dirty towel on show).

Once in the gymnasium we went to individual walled hooks that had a bench running beneath them below the hooks;.  We changed in to PE kit which had to be pressed immaculate with creases showing in the front and back of the shorts.

The pumps (Trainers as they are now known) were the plimsoll type that after being issued had to be smeared in polish and bulled up to gleam.  If you were unfortunate enough to have been issues a brown pair then making them black took hours of rubbing polish in to them.  We soon learned that spray paint worked just as well.

Here is a point that I would like to make – (As we were all dressed the same by system administration no one could show off their fancy specialist trainers or sports gear as no one wore any.  We were all dressed the same and treated the same.)

To this day I will not buy designer clothing due to the very fact it shows not only that I can afford it but I may be considered a better person because If have it.   I would rather buy an adequate fit for purpose item.  If that mean’t I had to buy a designer item it would be a tried and tested item that I knew was/is the best for the task.

This attitude in later life would cause me many a debate with my own married life and sibling as yet to be noted.

In the gymnasium we had to parade in 3 groups where we were inspected by the PT staff then as their boss an APTC QMSI put it we were told we would be sorted out. (Later in the military I would attend and pass a 12 week PT instructors course at Aldershot  myself).

Organised Runs

We were sometimes taken for a run by our Junior SSM.  He was a real sadistic swine.  Getting us to do bunny hops (now not permitted) press ups in the mud. The training outdoors was tough with various exercised to be performed at stages along the runs.  Although totally exhausted we were kept going to the end of the session and we all helped each other.

Again everyone treated the same.  I took to the fitness training as if I was on a mission and started training in my own time which later assisted my credibility as someone very fit.  It brought out some down sides in me as well though.

First Half Term Events

• Leaving my previous life behind
• Traveling by train from my home town at Torquay to Newton Abbot – meeting a Sgt Soldier – bus to Denbury training camp
• Learning that Newton Abbot was called Floggit by the troops
• Sharing a room/billet with 11 other junior soldiers
• The room central lino
• Carrying the initial issued bedding/kit roll
• Initial awareness of 2 week trial period get out clause
• Our bed space known as pits
• KFS/diggers
• Initial shock of 0600 Revalie noise
• Relaxed Sundays
• Some guys sleep on floor to keep beds tidy and not disturb bed packs
• My confirmation by Reverend Tubby Clayton of Toc H fame
• Encouraged to write home
• Hrs spent preparing kit
• Working as a team
• Good comradery
• All treated and dressed the same
• Marched to meals carrying KFS/mug behind back
• Cooks piss take of me and not yet cut long hair
• My stirring Cpls tea
• Troop Sgt has me crying after my sending off drill square
• Beret shaping
• Best boots bulling
• My best boots thrown out window by Cpl
• I buy ammo boots; the resulting effect; only me
• Make myself get up before others to be ready in advance
• Drawers drack underpants
• Block jobs
• Bumper brush

• Effective team work
  Room inspection our toes against lino beading next to our beds
• Bull nights
• SSM and my bed pack incident
• Geronimo haircut
• Further education
• Tutor advising us that to be an ally of USA is the kiss of death
• Everyone treated the same at sport activities; no one left out
• Drill Sgt vocabulary
• Salad meals after a main meal
• Relaxed Sunday’s
• NAAFI attendance (Not for me; I felt I did not fit)
• NAAFI dance nights; girls attended; I only went once; felt out of place
• Bed shaking at late nights/masturbation
• Lack of love life/none up to now anyway
• My now cocky confidence from all being dressed/treated the same
• Writing to known girls near home I knew
• Our mail delivered to your bed/pit
• Some lads receiving upsetting news from home; some resulting in thumping lockers or crying
• My introducing a lad with no mail to my Sister as pen pal; it backfires; she dumps him after meeting
• Polishing pumps/trainers
• No designer attire to stand out; only self-esteem and effort shows
• PT bunny hops and press ups in the mud
• All help each other
• My fitness comes through
• Going home for half term break feeling a lot better in myself and very confident