Geez For A Fourteen Year Old I Had Long Hair and had this Flowery Shirt with huge round collar and wore a Cravat around my neck and Platform Boots hehehe.And with the Jeans we useed to cut them up the seams and get lighter jeans and cut out triangles and sowed them into the sides of the darker jeans. Just fashion in them days.
Big Round Collars and the Tie was the same Pattern of the Shirt.
I Mean.. That Was The Style in them Days lol
One Morning I Said To Myself " I'm Gonna Join The Army" See the world..have plenty of money..but i had to wait another year when i joined the ATC (Army Training Corps) at JTR Troon in Ayrshire. (JTR Junior Tradesmen Regiment)
1970
Junior Tradesmen's Regiment
Dundonald Camp
Troon was situated at Dundonald Camp some 3 miles North of Troon and within walking distance of the sea. Junior Soldiers were accommodated in Barrack blocks which are centrally heated and with convienient washing facilities.
Boys aged from 15 3/4 to 17 who had been selected by the War Office, after application at an Army Information Office, came to the Regiment for a period of from 3 to 6 terms depending on age at entry. Boys were recruited into the Regiment or Corps of their choice before going there and were fully trained in one of the following 3 Army Trades before graduating to a field unit of Her Majesty's Forces:
Driver -- Driver/Radio Operator -- Driver/Clerk
Junior Soldiers completed the term in which they became 171/2 and then passed out and after leave, join their Regiment or Corp as trained soldiers.
The Regiment worked in terms which correspond to school terms starting in May, September and January. Junior soldiers were posted to Recruit Company on arrival. They then passed on to the Trade Companies for the remainder of their time in the Regiment. The highlight of their of their Junior Term was the passing off the square parade at mid-term. Junior Soldiers who had reached the first basic standard in bearing, turnout, dirill and general progress took part in this parade which marked the end of their basic training. Parents and friends were invited to Dundonald Camp and were entertained by the Regiment on that day. Junior Soldiers took part in a Mustering or Graduation Parade at the end of their time with the Regiment and they were addressed by a Senior Officer before they went off to join their own Regiment or Corps. Leave periods were between terms and totalled 10 weeks in the year. Leave was with pay and ration allowance and free return travel warrants to any address in UK was issued.
During their first term Junior Soldiers spent a considerable propotion of their time on education. The Senior Education Officer had a staff of fully qualified and specially trained teachers, both of the Royal Army Education Corps and Civilians.
The aim was to prepare all Junior Soldiers so that could pass their Junior and Intermediate Army Certificates before leaving the Regiment. This qualified them educationally for eventual promotion to Sergeant in the Army. A Junior Soldier whose ability indicated that he was capable of passing his Senior Army Certificate, or G.C.E. or the S.C.E. was individually coached and prepared for the examination.
There was a rank structure within the Regiment and opportunities for promotion up to Junior Warrant Officer was open to all Junior Soldiers. Promotion to the lowest rank could be achieved by the outstanding boy as soon as he had completed his first seven weeks training.
Me... I Was A Driver/Radio Operator.
"Stand By Your Beds!!! "
Good Grief.. Bed Blocks Lol..I Just Could'nt Get my Bed Block Square Enough.
My Corps Beret Badge.
I Remember Being in Cassells Company B and I Was In The Regimental Bugle and Snare Drum Band as The Base Drummer. With Leopard Skin Overcoat lol. We Went out of Camp on Festivals And Parades around Scotland on several Occasions.
And The Tune I Got in my Head At That Time Was This....
To Be Continued
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