Einmal Currywurst mit Pommes bitte!

jimsigs1 wrote:

I was told that the entrance exam for the Gunners was equivalent to Army Certificate of Education 3rd Class. Since I had School Certificate I was exempt - so into the Siggys I went.

Sounds good Jim, but certainly, in NS days, the Royal Regt had room for all....... and I think ACE came in around late 1955.......... After the induction IQ tests at the NS medical, jobs were allocated on the basis of a determined Service Grading. From memory ( which can be a bit rusty ) these were as follows in RA:-

OR 1s were potential officers in basic Trg.

SG 1 were potential officers & with SG2
were higher tech trades, Surveyors RA,
Tech Assistants RA, etc

SG 3 Plus & SG 3 Minus were the average
and this group were Regt Sigs, Drivers,
clerks, Storemen, etc.

SG4 & SG5 were gun Nos, GDs etc.

Not hard and fast groupings as requirements for replacements were necessary
considerations when allocating trades............ Back to Compo & Curries!

SG 6 were destined for the Royal Signals.

Cartav, ACE 1, 2 & 3 were being used when I joined in 1949 so that's a bit before your estimate of 1955.

No such thing as SG6 Shelldrake - your having a laugh !!!

Hmmm, by my day it was SSG 1 -3 with I thought SSG 3 being the highest grade, I could be wrong though, I often am.

[quote="jimsigs1"]Cartav, ACE 1, 2 & 3 were being used when I joined in 1949 so that's a bit before your estimate of 1955.

Ok Jimsigs ! I stand corrected, though I recall a mad concentration on education in the '50s ......... something to do with an edict which required NCOs to have ACE 3 at 1 & 2 stripe level and a SNCO had to have ACE 1. Crazy ! We had war service Nos.1 who could strip the gun down in their sleep, and had no chance of making it. Knowledgeable NS lads helped out to pass on snippets of info out of hours and BCs pressed for examination papers to be marked sympathetically.

There was this Education Corps sgt. three stripes up after basic trg. One of the lads tested him during a geography session...... "Sarge! Where's Clitoris?" One of his mates got there on his last leave, he said. "Sounds Greek" said the instructor, "Is it a small place ?" Pupil confirmed it was. "Well done lad ! That's what I like, ask if you've got a query ......." Then the SOP follow up.... "...... I'll check it out and tell you where it is next time ."

Quote :

an edict which required NCOs to have ACE 3 at 1 & 2 stripe level and a SNCO had to have ACE 1.

Royal Sigs Techs had to have ACE 3 for L/Cpl
ACE 2 for Cpl
and ACE 1 for Sgt

Most ex apprentices (Tech Trades) were exempt ACE 1 This was from 61 untill after i left in 70

I was Jimsigs! In my day 62 - 86 the gradings were SSG 1 - 5, 1 being the highest, they were further broken down to - or + 2, 3 4 and 5. ACE 3 was required for promotion to Lbdr/Bdr, ACE 2 for Sgt/Ssgt and ACE for promotion to WO 2/WO 1. Been to both clitoris and G spot. G Spot is in the Bleckmar triangle or I am getting confused with a Trig point?

Shelldrake wrote:

I was Jimsigs! In my day 62 - 86 the gradings were SSG 1 - 5, 1 being the highest, they were further broken down to - or + 2, 3 4 and 5. ACE 3 was required for promotion to Lbdr/Bdr, ACE 2 for Sgt/Ssgt and ACE for promotion to WO 2/WO 1. Been to both clitoris and G spot. G Spot is in the Bleckmar triangle or I am getting confused with a Trig point?

I left Boys with ACE1.

Nobody bothered me again, education-wise until the mid-70s when I had to take EPC (A).

What a waste of time THAT was !

That's about it fellas - ACE 1 for Sgt rank in the Siggys. In addition, you needed to be a Class 1 in your trade, attend a SSgts Course and lastly attend either the Guards Drill Course or a Weapon Instructors Course under the SASC. The Corps did 6 week course, Infantry did 10 weeks on the Course. With all of this you were set to rise up to WO1 rank provided you had the recommendations and for selection to WO1, to be selected on that Board at Records.

I managed all the coursed etc but did not get as far as the WO1 selection board. Never mind, its all so long ago, I've been out now for 40 years.

jim wrote:

Frikadellen was what you had to put up with when all the schnellies had closed and the bars had stopped cooking grub.

They were always bloody cold as well but as you had been out most of the night downing the beer and the doppelkorn you would eat anything.

I would eat anything anyway Pete

We i'm back and it was a great weekend, the rugby was pretty boring though, no competition from the Navy at all.

I`m surte you made up for it in other ways Jim

Oh yes, and I actually found a trailer selling Bratties, lovely, took me right back, had the correct senf as well Gordon

Saw the old Frikadellen on sale on Aldo yesterday. Grabbed me a couple of packets.

They sell genuine bratties at various places in the Canary islands.

One in particular that we have frequented who's name escapes me is sited at Teguise market,Lanzarote, every Sunday.

Washed down with proper German ale, a proper treat.

Great market at Teguise Pete26. Been there many times, although very crowded still able to find a parking spot. Remember seeing the old English Fish & Chips van every time.

jimsigs1 wrote:

Great market at Teguise Pete26. Been there many times, although very crowded still able to find a parking spot. Remember seeing the old English Fish & Chips van every time.

You have to know where to park there Jim. The first timers often fall for the wavers into their plots and pay uberdosh, and still have to walk far.

Been visiting lanz since 1989.

Wonderful experience today.......... went into town for no particular reason & found there was a street market. Sniffed the air, followed my nose & arrived at a Bratwurst kiosk. Needless to say, couldn't resist buying one.......... £ 4 they wanted which was handed to a proper Deutsche this time, rather than a fancy Manchester blonde dressed up in Tracht.

Came from Kiel, this lad, greeted me in his own lingo and was polite about my response in a similar vein. Almost made me forget that we got one for 1 DM in 1950's Osnabruck when the exchange rate was 12 DM to the pound. Counting the pennies to see if I can get back tomorrow !

Bet that made your day Cartav. Wish I was there, not only for the Bratfurst but the westher as well. Wet & cold here in UK

jimsigs1 wrote:

Bet that made your day Cartav. Wish I was there, not only for the Bratfurst but the westher as well. Wet & cold here in UK

Rotten here too, Jim, though the clouds are rolling back. Maybe the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire will see some sun today !

Having a Barbie later, just having a few cans delivered.

Don`t start without me,i`m on the way..

Dinnie furget tae bring a kerry oot, these urnae gonnie last aw day.


Subtitles for Brum


Don't for get to bring some alcohol, my stuff won't last all day.

Shelldrake wrote:

Having a Barbie later, just having a few cans delivered.

Blimey, the Besparmak mountains look a bit damp !

Holy Gulliver Travers, Lilliput and all that !!