Description
Object description
British boy soldier served with Army Apprentices School, GB, 1951-1954; craftsman, NCO and officer served with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB, Bahrain, Cyprus, Germany and Hong Kong, 1954-1990
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB and Australia, 1935-1951: military background in family and education; family reaction to his joining army including advice from father. Aspects of period as boy soldier at Army Apprentices School, GB, 1951-1954: summary of period at Arborfield; reception on arrival including issue of kit; details of uniform issued; discipline; details of NCOs cadre attended; role and details of apprentice scheme; apprentices leaving course; commitment made to army; leisure activities; leave on weekends and holidays; accommodation; duties and accommodation as apprentice lance corporal; details and use of pay; daily routine.
REEL 2 Continues: further details of discipline including system of charging and punishments; further details of routine; church parades and padres; passing out parade; posting to 36 Base Workshops in Greenford. Aspects of period as craftsman and NCO with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB and Bahrain, 1951-1965: details of workshops; evening activities; pattern of training; details of trade tests and pay increases; promotions up to sergeant; introduction to sergeants' mess; posting to 10 Command Workshops at Mill Hill; journey to work at Greenford; details of sergeants' mess; relationship with craftsmen; posting to Suez and retaining of rank; flight to Aden and period in Bahrain; posting to and situation in Cyprus; details of pay; duties in Cyprus; details of artificer selection board and course; results of course; posting to Anglesey; work with English Electric Thunderbird missiles including description of tests; Women's Royal Army Corps presence at Anglesey.
REEL 3 Continues: meeting of wife; background to marriage and posting to Donington; details of period in Donington; posting to Bahrain. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Bahrain, Germany, Hong Kong, 1965-1971: changes to posting after arrival; accommodation with family; details of workshop; relationship with Royal Corps of Signals; births of children; posting to Duisberg in Germany, 1967; situation in Germany; accommodation; relationship with civilians and details of Duisberg; visit to Mohne Dam; further details of relationship with civilians; details of Christmas parcel received; posting to Hong Kong, 1969; reason wife went to Hong Kong later; story of family's arrival in Hong Kong; details of tour in Kowloon including promotion; Aspects of period as NCO and officer with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB, 1971-1980: story of posting at 35 Base Workshops in Old Dalby including leisure activities; desire to gain commission; posting as artificer at Princess Marina College, Arborfield, 1972; story of receiving from salutes from apprentices; gaining of commission.
REEL 4 Continues: posting in York, 1973; accommodation in Strensall; life of family; duties; gaining of posting at Telecommunications Branch in Christchurch, 1975; accommodation; duties with civilian company, Plecy, in Romsey; education of children; gaining of posting in Romsey; buying of first home; further details of duties with Plecy; reasons for not seeking work with Plecy; gaining of staff post in Minden; education of children. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Germany, 1980-1987: accommodation; promotion to major; involvement of wife in church; gaining of posting to Dusseldorf, 1984; accommodation; work of wife; duties installing communications in vehicles including escalation of work for US Army visit; award and presentation of MBE; return of wife to GB; promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
REEL 5 Continues: gaining of posting in Malvern; reflections on time in Germany. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB, 1987-1990: accommodation; details of posting; work of wife; decision to leave army. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1990: details of civilian life and work including with army at Arborfield and Malvern; family; reflections on service.