Memories of a Veteran Part the Second

Kia Ora, from New Zealand friends and colleagues,

Well I was quite surprised to get the response that I did if I am honest, seems more is asked for LoL.

So yes I offer you more memories of a veteran

1977

While waiting to graduate from the Apprentices College in my last term of training and education, I was asked if I was interested in being put forward as a candidate for officer selection.

My Dad had always told me to volunteer for everything so I did what Dad said. I was interviewed by the College Chief Instructor, a senior Lieutenant Colonel, in what they called a Unit Selection Board. Anyway I seemed to pass that and was sent to a little WW2 base in Westbury in Wiltshire, near Salisbury Plain, to undergo a 3-day selection centre process known as the Officer Selection Board.

This selection process has seen some modification over the years but is a largely tried and proven selection centre that has been responsible for selecting the majority of the British Army's officers since the Second World War.

And.........

Well to cut a very long story short I passed. Great you say. Well good news and bad news! If I had

failed I would graduate on promotion to Lance Corporal from college and be posted for 3 years to Cyprus as an airfield exchange technician. But now after 30 months training I was facing another 3 years of training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and a special to arm Royal Corps of Signals Young Officers course!

College Graduation

I did still graduate from The Apprentices College in August 1977 as a Lance Corporal and I did so in full Highland Dress as the senior Drum Major of the College combined bands, another source of great pride for my Father a proud Scotsman his whole life. I didn't go to Cyprus!

I was sent to do an Outward Bound Course in North Wales, followed by a drill instructors course and a small arms weapons instructors course, which made me very valuable to my Platoon Colour Sergeant when I arrived at the Royal Millitary Academy Sandhust After Christmas leave.

Officer Training

Anyway off I went to the Academy. I actually had a really great time, because having been a

soldier for nearly 3 years, all the boot camp stuff was a bit old hat really, and I could concentrate on learning how to be an effective young leader.

As predicted I was pressed into action as an assistant instructor by my Colour Sergeant which kept a lot of the flack away from me.

I also had time to carry on all of those sporting activities that I had started at the Apprentices College.

One of the highlights was representing the Academy as the Captain of a 3 man fencing team at the French Military Academy St Cyr in 1978. I 'm the good looking dude on the right in this photo

Next Episode

In the next installment I will arrive on the North German plain, at the height of the Cold War, never having been out of the British Isles, other than to fence in France, or even set foot on an aeroplane, in my 21 years of a relatively sheltered existence,

From New Zealand, good night and please stay safe.

KIA KOA

KIAKAHA

Hamish🧐

CLICK HERE FOR PART THE 3rd

YOU CAN READ FROM THE BEGINNING HERE PART THE 1st