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I was relieved,
glad that we would not have to go through that every time that we were
going to be "on parade". It took an hour to get it right, and I am sure it
was the fault of the R.S.M. for being too ambitious.
Lunch came as a blessed relief. Our feet hurt, legs ached, shirt tickled,
drawers cellular rubbed, so we were not a happy group. It was fatal to lay
on your "pit" at this stage, anyhow we had no time. I strongly believe the
theory of keeping you on the move to stop you feeling miserable and
homesick. Home seemed a lifetime away. The afternoon followed on from when
we left off. We were going to be taught to move as one body of men. Good
for discipline and a very basic requirement. I thought this was a bit of a
waste of time. Did we not all know that one foot had to go in front of the
other — we all knew how to walk didn’t we?
Oh, but the army had their own view on how it should be done. There were
certain preambles to go through. We all knew where to stand. The morning
lesson had not been wasted on all of us, only some. It looked pretty good,
all in height order — tallest on the right, shortest on the left. It
seemed to make sense after all — or did it?
This time along came the Lance Corporal we had met previously.
Reluctantly, you had to agree that he knew his business. Again he thought
us all deaf because of his continual shouting. It does not follow that the
louder the order, the clearer it comes over. In a nervous state, such as
one is during continuous training, its sole effect is to confuse. How many
times I wished he would be kind and pleasant, but this was never to be.
He started off by saying put your hands behind your back and place your
right hand in your left and straighten your arms, pointing your fingers to
the ground. We all got it right first time. He was pleased as I am sure we
all were. We only had to do it 4 times before we all were invited to the
next stage.
It was "parade". I thought this a bit basic because we all knew we were
"On Parade", but it then got a little complicated. Parade was followed by
"SHUN!" so our minds duly registered "Parade, Parade, SHUN!" but nothing
happened. We were, I suppose, confused. "SHUN!" was an unknown movement.
No-one had told us what or who "SHUN" was. We were soon made aware that "SNUN"
was the movement of one leg, bent knee raised up level with the ground,
and almost to the waist. Do not bend down to meet your leg, it looks like
apple bobbing, we were told by the Lance Corporal. It was a dangerous
movement - if you did it too energetically, then your left leg coming down
from a great height proved to be painful as it caught your right ankle. As
one's aim improved, casualties became less. That was deemed enough for
that day and we were dismissed.
As the days passed, new movements were added and the instructors were
shaping us into a unit, moving in unison and starting to look the part. We
could turn to the left and to the right, salute to the left, front and
right, although not at the same time. Other accomplishments included —
"Halt!", "Get on Parade!" and "Form a square and open order
march!"
Marching was difficult for some whose coordination was not always as it
should be, and the left arm and foot would go together. This gave the
impression of looking like an orang-utan ambling around on the forest
floor. In extreme cases when the unit was marching, the "extreme cases"
were placed on the sidelines.
The assault course caused many casualties and like all the other
activities the permanent staff were doing a grand job in shaping us up. As
the weeks went by, pride in oneself and each other was developing. The
sloppy group that had arrived a few weeks ago were now looking like
soldiers!
The “Pass Off" parade was only a week to go. Parents were invited,
unfortunately mine could not travel that distance. It all came together
and the "Zombie" marchers were given flags to hold as markers who only had
to stand erect and still during the parade. Dispersal took place following
the parade and we all were give home leave prior to reporting to our
various locations for further training and trade training. In my case it
was to report to lnglis Barracks for Postal Training School (PTS) 148.
The pace of life at Mill Hill was far different to Malvern. The huts that
we were taught in were like a classroom. They contained desks, a mock-up
of a sorting office and counter facilities. The morning started with
Military skills and then we transferred into the classroom. S.S.M. George
Hale presided and I recall Sgt Weatherly, Cpl George Needham, Don Doig and
Bill Boyce as his PSIs.
This was enjoyable, as it was 'civvy' street practices adapted to the
military needs. FF1, FF3 and post orderly authority etc. When we all
reached the acceptable standard we were employed at HPD Knightsbridge, the
barn of a building prior to CPD Mill Hill.
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