Enlistment

Hi Guys,

Thought I might start a new topic. How did you end up in the Corps/Regt was it by choice?

Me enlisted as a boy soldier at the age of 16. I was passing the ACIOin Bradford. In the window was a picture of the Beatles on Salisbury plain dressed I think in Combat suits! The sign underneath said come inside and get your free ticket to see the movie "HELP".

When I went inside this soldier, think he was a SGT said sit down and questioned me about my life. Before I knew it he convinced me that joining up would be a good idea subject to my mums approval. I took some papers home, showed them to mum who duly signed them and I took them back the next day.

I took a number of tests with some other lads,one test was playing dominoes I told the recruiter I didnt know how....he said he had never come across anyone who could not play doms and put me in front of this Major who interviewed me and told the recruiter I would be ok.

Was sent home and a month or so later got a letter telling me to reportto the ACIO where I was sworn in, given a railway warrant to Rhyl and went two weeks later. When I got to Rhyl they asked me what Regt I was in I said ARMY. The told me I was to join the newly formed RCT and become a Marine Engineer.....ended up a driver???? What I want to know is how come the RCT and where did they get the nine years from?????

much the same story Dusty. just happened into the recruiting office in Bolton. i actually wanted to join the RAF as i was a keen ATC cadet. but the only guy there was a REME guy, and somehow i ended up being a VM. So much for the 5 year plan eh. i was 15 and 2 months old when i arrived at carlisle.

I wanted to join the Navy. I went to the Recruiting Office and they asked me if I could swim, I said "Why, haven't you got any boats?". They pointed me in the direction of the Army Recruiting Office.

Interesting,

Being a pad rat I was probably always fated to join the Army. I left school after A levels and was supposed to go to University, but I bummed out and became a hippie for 4 years. I eventually grew up and wandered into the Recruiting office in Gt Charles St in Birmingham, hair down to my ears etcetera. For some reason or other they weren't to interested. Anyway they sat me down and interviewed me and once they'd heard that I'd been a CCF RSM, military family and boarding school that changed rapidly. I did some tests and was destined for the signal tech side, but I failed the colour perception test on red/green. Damn dots. The choice then was Int Corps or RAOC Staff Clerk. I went and talked to my Dad, who was flabbergasted but he said RAOC Staff Clerk was a good trade so that is what I became. When iwas a Cpl I took, along with many others the ADP aptitude test, I achieved a very high score and on my next posting as a SGT I started working in IT. ADP as it was then called. The rest is history.

Quote :

where did they get the nine years from?????

You must have signed for 9 & 3 Dusty..9 years in the colours and 3 in the reserve.The other option was 6 & 6..
You must have gone for the extra cash,or didn`t read the small print

I'm sure mine was 22/9 would that be correct?

I think it may have been 9/22..9 in the colours with the option of going for 22..If they liked you

yes, that sounds about right Gordon.

Stories of piss ups, skiing, blonde nymphs in exotic places. How could one be so naive? The piss up bit was correct though. Also brother was in the Corps so better the devil you know and all that!

Quote :

blonde nymphs in exotic places.

This bit I missed

The recruiting Sgt was The Local Regt The Royal Berks, he tried to get me to join them.
My brother had put me wise to that. So when I said R.A.S.C or nothing he said I don't think they will take you. As soon as I said "family Tradition", My Dad and Brother would kill me.
He replied "We can't 'ave that, can we." Signed me on for 6/22
During me time I signed for 9/22 12/22 and 15/22
Didn't regret leaving but missed it.

in the mid 60s i worked in manchester city centre but lived about 7 mile away. i came out of work to find it was thick fog and the buses had stopped running,well not fancying walking home i decided to go for a pint,the only problem was in them days they did not open till half five so with 20 mins to go walked along fountain st and came across the recruitment office went in out of the cold and this sgt came up and asked me if i fancied joining up no way mate was my reply to which he said theres no harm in doining the short test and he could tell me what regts i could go in so i took the test and he gave me a choice of regts,i said i loved driving and motorbikes and he said theres a new one called the RCT. at this point i was just about to leave when he said theres a doctor here why not just do the medical it only takes 10mins so i did

came out of the medical and looked out of the window it was still thick fog looked at all the posters of exotic places and thought why not so i signed up for 6 yrs,got home after a few pints and did not tell anyone only to find 3 nights later on getting home from work the colour sgt from the recrutment office had been and left a travel warrant and joining instructions 2 weeks away ,my dad never spoke for days and would not discuss it he was ex services but just said i was mad and had made my own bed.

did my training at houndstone camp,yeovil loved it to bits once i got my first posting found out if i signed for 9yrs i would get more pay ie beer tokens like jerry 6/22 became 9/22 etc the only regret i have is coming out.

I was working a market off scotland road , the lad with me said he was going to join the army, so I went down to london road recruitment office to keep him company , can't remember why but for some reason I took the test , this lad fail the test , 2 months later , 13 / 1 / 1963 i was a j/dvr , in the Junior Tradesmans Regiment kimmel park camp, Bodelwydden, Nr RHYL, 6 with thr colors 6 reserves, wouldn't change it one bit , exept maybe should have stayed in longer.

Family tradition - Dad RSM in RCT, Grandad old contemptible, gassed at the Somme and discharged from the colours, went and rejoined again into the RASC.

My time came - did my test in Herford, The RA Major said, good score, join the artillery - you could be a gunner technical.

When they told me it would take two years as they were full they offered ACC, RAOC Pet Op or RADC dental technician...

RAOC Pet Op it was....

Signed up on an open engagement for 22 years and left, initially after 6 due to the missus wanting to stay in the fatherland...

Repoined in 2004 - AGC MPGS and medically discharged 2007 - I am sad I had to go...!

Hi Sheldrake,

Should have been no problem for you in the Navy.........SH.T FLOATS. Only joking matey

Hi Themaadone,

New you were from good breeding as your dad was RSM RCT

Tony Miller wrote:

Hi Themaadone,

New you were from good breeding as your dad was RSM RCT

Nah, No RSM had a dad..... Oh he was your dad? Sorry!

[Now now Teabag ]

Teabag wrote:

Tony Miller wrote:

Hi Themaadone,

New you were from good breeding as your dad was RSM RCT

Nah, No RSM had a dad..... Oh he was your dad? Sorry!

Hee, naughty naughty.

oldtimer wrote:

in the mid 60s i worked in manchester city centre but lived about 7 mile away. i came out of work to find it was thick fog and the buses had stopped running,well not fancying walking home i decided to go for a pint,the only problem was in them days they did not open till half five so with 20 mins to go walked along fountain st and came across the recruitment office went in out of the cold and this sgt came up and asked me if i fancied joining up no way mate was my reply to which he said theres no harm in doining the short test and he could tell me what regts i could go in so i took the test and he gave me a choice of regts

I remember Fountain Street old timer. Used to go on leave to Manchester in the 60s My wife came from there. Was the Sgt a Para I'm trying to recall his name but it eludes me right now. Talk about alzimers.
ps Chick Dempsy wracked my Brain for that one !!!