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ACF
- Army Cadet Force
On
another rather grim instance Col Dadson got some top brass
to come and inspect the unit. We drilled and drilled and drilled
on the terrace. He'd borrowed a public address system and
connected this to Mr Conroy's record player to give us some
canned military music to march to. It was blazing hot summer
weather and we had to stand to attention for what seemed like
hours. I felt faint but managed to keep standing. A couple
of guys actually collapsed on to the tarmac with a crash.
Not very nice. Actually, on the big day a military band appeared,
but I can't remember just what it was all about. It all seemed
rather pointless..
. . and a couple of stories about the ACF from Malcolm Blackburn.
I remember that sometime in the early 50's we marched to Skipton
and back!
Not sure why but I remember that it was dark on the way back
to Eshton and someone at the back carried a red lamp.
Also in 1953 or 54 we went to a big Cadet Camp at Fylingdales
Moor near Scarborough for a week. I recall we went by train
via Leeds and York. We fired Brenguns and I was sure my shoulder
was put out. One day we had to do kitchen duties and we sat
around this huge tub peeling potatoes and smoking cigarettes.
Fortunately the habit didn't catch on.
By coincidence my brother was there the same week with a contingent
from Batley Grammer School. He threatened to tell our parents
about my smoking. I guess that did it. He is now Professor
of Chemistry at Sheffield University. When I went into the
R.A.F. to do National Service I got to do one week less of
Recruit Training (Square Bashing!) as a credit for my time
in the Cadets.
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