98%

I want to recount to you a story that took place while at RMPTS (Royal Military Police Training School), Chichester on or about March 1999.

It’s a story honouring my intelligence and superiority over my colleges, an opportunity to boost my ego.

As part of the training to become a Military Policeman we had to pass two tests based on the subject of Law and Police Procedures. In general a month of learning definitions.

Such as the definition of Theft for example:

A person is guilty of Theft if he dishonesty appropriates property belonging to another, with the intention of permently depriving the other of it. Thieve and steal shall be construed accordingly.

Of which we must learn word for word, knowing what section it is namely Section 9 and where the section is from, namely from the Army Act 1955. Plus knowing what the points to prove were.

On the first test the majority of the class scored below standard. This inflamed the instructors to such an extent that extra study was enforced upon us.

The Sergeant of our platoon (Sgt Lycett) even offered us a deal.

‘If everyone scores over 80% on the second test all be allowed out on the following Saturday’
This was incentive enough.

So when the day of the test came expectation was high.

After an hour wait the results were called out to the class. The name and their percentage score.

I sat patiently waiting for my name to be called out. Though once he (SSgt ?????) finished, my name still hadn’t been called.

Before I could enquirer he called my name.

‘LCpl Taylor’

I tentatively raised my hand above my head.

‘Come to the front of the class, bring a chair and stand on it facing the class’
What the hell was happening I thought?

The Staff Sergeant continued, ‘I understand there is a deal on the table. A deal that if everyone passed you would all be allowed out down town. That if only one failed the rest would suffer. Well let me tell you Taylor, you are the one who failed. You scored 75% in your test. Well done, you are the reason why you all aren’t going down town.’

I was dumbstruck, horrified and shamed.

‘Sorry guys’ was all I could say to the class as I hung my head in shame.

Though to my surprise the Staff sergeant continued.

‘No Taylor I was only kidding. In actual fact you scored 98%, the highest in the class, getting only one question wrong. What section is the ‘Aiders and Abettors Act’?’

‘Section 7, I think Staff’

‘Well why didn’t you write that’?

So near but so far.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my story and I hope you stick with me and read another. Because another will be coming your way. Another true story from the archives of Matthew D Taylor.