266 (GVA) O.P. Bty R.A. (V)
Recruit Taining & the Crew Commander Course
When the army changed the format of recruit training and making trade qualifications a perquisite for promotion, a new qualification came in, the form of Crew commander and Detachment Commander (in the mid 1980s?). So by taking all recruits from all over the U.K. to Woolwich Barracks, London. it made a level playing field for all units, but this left the units not knowing what if any specific training should be taught, before going to Woolwich, as the bty's emphasis was on trade training.
Major R. G. McKenna R.A. who was the B.C. at the time, instigated a Recruiting Cadre, which would be able to teach and motivate the men applying for membership of 266th Bty, this took the form on day one of a written test to establish the education qualities of each man, then a timed run on the downs to judge their fitness and attitude. And yes, we have had applicants, who when asked what their mothers name was, answered "MUM".
The recruit cadre was to be overseen by the BSM Derek J. Driscoll with Sgt Barry Darbon as the main instructor with other instructors being used as and when necessary from the battery.
The weekend training at first was fitness training, splitting up the men into 2, 3 or more teams. This took the line of orienteering (map reading and fitness) in Ashton Court Estate this also encouraged the will to win and team spirit. We took the opportunity on evening drills to teach them how to iron their kit, polish and bull their boots, recognise the rank structure, First aid, NBC, AFV recognition and also we introduced them to the vehicles, guns and radios. One of the most enjoyable training sessions was .22 shooting on the indoor range which all seemed to enjoy. After last parade the bar opened and recruits would spend time socializing with the rest of the battery also on Friday night drills we would introduce them to the Old & Bold of the Bty and members of the Royal Artillery Association who would talk to them and give them encouragement and most of all, laugh with them. Some of the wife's also would turn up with their children, which was as the B.C. described as "Our past, Present and Future" the wifes also felt that they belonged to the battery which was a big plus.
The weekend training mostly took place in and around Bristol, The Downes, Ashton Court Estate, Snuff Mills and Purdown, the last two being in Stapleton. For full bore shooting we were allowed to use the Avon & Somerset police 50 meter range which is on the Somerset side of the river Avon, we collected the keys from the horse and dog section at Bower Ashton. We also took them to the Brecon Beacons S/Wales, where they climbed Pen y Fan, also they had to run a orienteering course carrying logs, which took in forest tracks, hills and various obstacles such as running along a disused railway line into a very dark disused tunnel which had a bend in it so that as the men got half way they could not see the end. Jumping into a large pool of water 6ft deep from a height of 10 feet and they all had to work as a team to get to the finishing line. These weekends also taught them how to build a basher, to put up a 2 man tent, cooking using Hexamine blocks and first aid and what to take and what not to take, on exercise.
One Christmas Dinner Dance, Sgt Darbon got the recruits to put on a bit of a show for the entertainment of the battery, it was "The Frog Song" by Paul McCartney, well for weeks before, after evening parade the recruits would disappear for an hour or so to rehearse the song.
The Christmas Dinner, as I remember it, it was a very lively occasion, a good meal with wine and a raffle with a lot of prizes but the best was the recruits song, they dress as the creatures of the song, and it went down very well, with calls for more.
We tried to engage the wives and the parents of the men, they were a big asset to the battery as they all felt they also belonged to the unit. They played a big part in the smooth running of the battery recruits cadre.
On the completion of the recruit cadre with all recruits now placed to go to Woolwich, we held a Passout parade. This was where the men could show off a little of what they had learnt in the form of drill, to stripping small arms and first aid to their relations.
We had some very good comments from the parents about the course and some bad comments to, one such was a lady who asked the B.C. "What have you done to my son, he goes out drinking and comes in very late" B.C's reply was "Well madam, umm, Err," and another thing she said in a loud voice "he goes out looking for girls in pubs".
With all the training the men got on the course, when they went to Woolwich they were full of enthusiasm and grit, but the Bty never won the Best Recruit, because they improved less then others, who had no training before hand, but the Battery was better off with the new trained recruits.