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Enlisting and Training
Reporting in to the Guard-house I was informed to join the queue. When 38 had reported in we were given a number. Mine was 4275705 then marched to be examined by the Doctors. I was one of the first in line to see the Doctors. They were amazed to see 6 men in a row who had been Vaccinated including myself. As I was A1 it was then, line up and march to the stores for Uniforms. By this time it was lunch, so we were marched off to the Messhall for lunch.
After lunch we were then marched back across the road and into a large wooden hut, we were then allocated a bed. A single with sheets and a blanket and one cupboard. Then we were off again back across the road to the Barracks.
We then went to the Armoury store and were issued with a Gasmask. A 1916, 303 Lee Enfield Rifle number 9705 and one Bayonet, and Scabbard but no ammunition. I arrived home again at 6pm all dressed up as a soldier, anyhow I was dressed. Back to Barracks by 11-30pm, into an Army bed. Not so comfortable as my own bed or was it just strange.
6am, what is that noise. Who could be so stupid as to make music in the middle of the night. The room door flew open and a loud voice shouted out of bed any sick. If some were still asleep there bed was tipped over. I think we were all sick.
Fancy having to get out of bed in the pitch black. at a scramble, washed, shaved and dressed, just made it, fall in and answer your names. All correct Sergeant say’s a voice, who’s he? we wouldn’t have long to wait to find out. Line up in three’s. We then marched across the road into the Barracks Mess Hall.
After breakfast a big voice right ‘A’ Company fall in outside. Is that us ? yes, well wait for me. Marched back to our hut across the road. Please Sergeant I have left my knife fork and spoon behind. Well you had better go back for them quick smart. Arriving back out of breath. Did you get them? I said! no, but I found somebody else’s. He said! “It doesn’t take long for some people to learn”.
Then he dropped a bombshell, anything you lose, you will have to pay for them out of your own money what money. We were paid 2 shillings a day or 14 shillings a week and out of that my mother’s allowance of 7 shillings. Out of my 7 shillings I had to buy Cigarettes, Blanco powder, Boot Polish, and Toothpaste, shaving soap and razor blades. I was left with nothing.
I couldn`t go home and that was only 7 miles away. When I did have 9 pence for the bus fare I went home and I decided to use my bicycle. Arriving back at the Barracks at 10 pm on my bicycle no one objected. So I could go home every time I was free. Down the Coast road following behind a double decker buss. We went on Route Marches, three or 4 times a week, with full packs.
We were always singing, Roll Out the Barrel. These Marches started off at 6 miles and got longer each time we went out. The Snow was very thick, and we went to the rifle range at least once a week and lay in wet Snow. Not to fire our rifles but just practice using them. Then of course square bashing every day, in columns of three quick march, about turn, halt, and so on.
After 3 weeks we were standing in line in our hut. I passed out, when I awoke I was in Hospital. I had Bronchitis. After a week in Hospital I was sent back to Fenham Barracks. Then came the big day. We went to the Rifle range for target practice. We had to lie in the prone position on the ground in thick snow.
At 300 yards we had 5 rounds of live ammunition. I scored 5 Bulls, but some one split on me as I had used a sandbag to rest my Rifle on. We had leave most weekends, and we had to be back by 10-30pm. But if you where wise you would arrive back sooner, if you came in after 10-30pm and no lights on a lot of strange things could happen and did, For instance, you had to get undressed in the dark, then when you got into bed you could scrape your legs on a Rifle.
Or when you went to your cupboard, Helmets or other things would fall on your head. There was always someone playing pranks. Two favorites were,to put the table top in place of the Mattress.
The other one was a french sheet, the sheet was placed on the bed halved, so when you got into bed yours knees were up to your chin. One of them did, so he just pushed his feet through the sheet. Next morning when he got up it looked like a large nappie. After 3 months of training, we were ordered to pack, as we were moving across the road to the Barracks.
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