Toms Picture Gallery
Some of the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them
Toms Picture Gallery
Some of the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them
 Tom in 1938 |
 Tom in 1945 |
 This
one is the recreation room where a recruit could play snooker, billiards,
or checkers. There was a draughts player called Ferris, no one to my knowledge
ever beat him at the game. Perhaps others will remember Ferris |
 This
one is Savastapol Squad on the drill square, Stirling Castle 1938. |
 Having
done the days training a recruit is allowed to go down to the town of Stirling
where he may wander round the shops , chat up the local girls or go to
the cinema. Should a recruit be short of cash, (on ten shillings a week
they usually were) because half of the ten shillings was spent on cleaning
materials, he could go to the soldier's home. This was a small pair of
rooms close to the Castle that had a billiard room and a counter where
one could buy a cup of tea and an iced bun or sandwich. It was run by a
voluntary group of ladies from the town of Stirling. There was also a library
where one could sit quiet and read, or write letters home. Postage
stamp could be bought at the tea counter. |
 Balaclava
Squad was the squad I trained in in Stirling Castle in late 1938. The Sgt.
in charge of that squad was Sgt. Hutchinson. Because the powers that be
wanted more lads to join up a booklet was going to be printed with pictures
to induce young men to join up. To this end the C.O. at Stirling Castle
decided to take the pick of two squads, the other squad being Sgt. Campbell's
(Corunna Squad) The out come of this was Balaclave squad got all the smartest
looking blokes with Sgt. Cambell at the front for the picture. |
 This activity
occurred at Stirling Castle and Wellington Barracks Aldershot. The drill
was, go to the Q.M stores and collect a gallon tin of wax. One bloke would
spatter wax on the floor and spread it with a mop, then another would follow
him with the 'bumber'. A heavy wooden board covered with felt like material
attached to a long handle that swivelled on the bumber head. The drill
with this bumper was you push it and it slides away then you pull it back
and it slides the other way. Once you get a rhythm going it's not bad.
When you have done this for about an hour a day you get used to it. When
we got our vaccinations we used to polish the floor to get rid of the lump
under the arm due to the vaccination |
 The parade
ground at Stirling castle in 1939 There are two parade grounds at Stirling
Castle. One is a small parade ground inside the Castle where the whole
Garrison can assemble to be inspected etc. To march up and down to the
music of the Pipe Band the Pipe Band will strike up and lead the way through
the main arch and on across the drawbridge. The drawbridge is now permanently
down.
Once on the larger parade ground the band will move to one side and halt. The different companies would march to the far end to the big parade ground, turn left and halt. When the command right turn was given every one would turn to his right. Now if the command quick march was given the battalion would advance in line. This drill served to get everyone marching in a dead straight line and was so impressive that tourist's cameras were clicking during most of this exercise. 1938 was also the turning point in Military History because it was in about October when the drill and marching order was altered. Until 1938 when a regiment fell in, they formed fours and marched in four columns. But in 1938 this was changed so that instead of every one falling in side by side in two ranks then numbering off and the odd man stands still and the even number stepped back and sideways thus making two ranks into four. They now fell in as three ranks and stayed that way ready to march off. The big difference however was in fixing bayonets the old way, on the command 'FIX' the right hand man of the squad took three short sharp paces forward and remained still. On the Command 'BAYONETS' , the top of the rifle was pushed forward with the right hand while the left hand thumb hooks round the handle of the bayonet, the scabbard now goes upside down on the webbing and with one swift sweep the bayonet is drawn and slotted onto the top of the rifle. This posture is maintained until the command 'SHUN' when everyone pulls back the top of the rifle and the right hand man steps smartly back into the ranks that are now at attention. From 1938 and the change over to three ranks, fixing bayonets was also modified in that now it worked the same way but the bloke on the right did not have to trot out to the front and return when it was done. When entering the Castle a quick glance to the right and one can see about hundred yards away the beheading block used in olden times. |
 This is the
N.A.A F.I. canteen. Navy.Army.Air Force. Institute. A place to relax after
a hard day square bashing. 1938 Stirling Castle |
 P.T.
Instruction 1938 Style, Stirling Castle Gymnasium. The Instructor here
was Sgt. Major Lony. |
 The
tailor was a civilian tailor under Government contract. This gentleman
would take stock of one's uniform and make any alterations he deemed fit,
to make a chap look smart and well turned out. The kilt would not be altered
and some chaps would fit two straps and buckles to the kilt but one could
be put on a charge because it was not Gov't issue. According to regulations
the kilt could only be worn wrapped and pinned with a issued huge Kilt
Pin. I did notice however one day when the wind was high that the C.O.s
kilt lifted a little and showed the pleats held together by a broad piece
of elastic band sewn to each pleat. By the way the Black Watch kilt and
the Argyll kilt are the same tartan, Government Tartan, Campbell
Tartan. the difference is the Black Watch kilt has knife pleats The Argyll
kilt has Box pleats. There are seven and a half yards of material in a
kilt. |
 The .22 rifle
range. At Stirling castle 1938 When we moved to Wellington Barracks Aldershot
England we went on the the big range where we used .303 Lee Enfield Rifles.
The drill was each man was issued with three clips of five rounds in metal
disposable clips. Then we had to start the course at two thousand yards.
Run like hell in full equipment plus big pack, water bottle, gas mask,
steel helmet etc. Then at one thousand yards drop down on a firing point
and shoot five round through the target. Jump up and run to the firing
point at eight hundred yards. Shoot five rounds through the target Then
jump up again and run to the firing point at five hundred yards and shoot
the last five through the target. While we were running the target were
checked and pasted over then pushed up again for the next volley. All empty
shells had to be returned to the Armory Sgt. |
 Tom
Barker and Bob Moat in that order from the left. Jenin Camp 1939. Bob Moat
was also A& S H and he was a mate of mine. One day he got a birthday
present sent to him from family in England It was a camera complete with
two rolls of film. That day we got to our favorite spot at the back of
B coy barracks and got another bloke to take our picture. Danny McCormack
was another mate along with Ginger Craig and a Yorkshire bloke called Gillies.
There was an Arab contractor who supplied the dhobi wallah (laundry) and
the chi wallah ( tea) and the Khatab (book)wallah (sweets and fruit) This
bloke had more Celebrities in his book than Hollywood. There was
Charles the first, George the fifth, Wee Jimmy from the Chinese Light Cavalry.
Dracula, The Mummy, and Sweet Georgia Broon. He would also travel to Tel
Aviv and get our films processed for us. He tried to rip us off one day
but that is in one of the stories. |
 Tom
taken in 1947 The square picture was taken about six months after I got
home from WW2 I had been away from home eight years. The long thin picture
with the kilt was taken at my sister's wedding in 1938. |
Mark Dun has very kindly spent a lot of time retouching all the above
photos. Please take a moment to visit his Fathers web site called
"
A Quiet Man Goes to War " which is also a A&SH web page.
Also please take time to view some more of Marks re-touch work by clicking
here