Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

postwarblue wrote:.. 'Form Two Deep' .. except when parading to chapel when the House Captain would raise his right arm and then drop it to give the signal, presumably to prevent an unseemly bellow being heard within.

Yes, I dimly remember that. Marching to chapel was abolished in my first term, Seaman obviously hated it. (Although the forming two deep on the approach to chapel was never really anything more than an informal merging.)

I remember my nursemaid telling me on my first day that on approaching the dining-hall door, I'd hear someone shout what sounded like "form three" but was in fact "form t'deep".

By this time (mid 50s) the Army had long since given up marching in fours, so these commands were a left-over.

Yes, the change from 4s to 3s in the Forces came at the begiining of WW11, I always found it amusing that whereas, on parade with the CCF (Originally in WW1 Uniform with puttees !!, but changed to Battledress) we marched in 3s and then returning to Housey Uniform for Tea -- we marched in 4s !!!

Wearing Puttees, was an art in itself, to get the spiral with the exact distance showing between layers, was a giggle, but had to be performed --- I was so glad, when we went to gaiters !

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:Yes, the change from 4s to 3s in the Forces came at the begiining of WW11, I always found it amusing that whereas, on parade with the CCF (Originally in WW1 Uniform with puttees !!, but changed to Battledress) we marched in 3s and then returning to Housey Uniform for Tea -- we marched in 4s !!!

Wearing Puttees, was an art in itself, to get the spiral with the exact distance showing between layers, was a giggle, but had to be performed --- I was so glad, when we went to gaiters !

Ar, Gaiters !

Block of Blanco for the gaiters and a tin of Brasso for the buckles, anyone ?

J.R. wrote: Ar, Gaiters !

Block of Blanco for the gaiters and a tin of Brasso for the buckles, anyone ?

The smell of the changing-room on Thursdays... (prior to to "Full Drill Order" on Fridays).

And then four-by-two...

Bring back National Service, I say !

Might sort out a few of these lazy hoodies we see prowling the streets.

JR - do you really want the defence of the country entrusted to those 'lazy hoodies'?

Fjgrogan wrote:JR - do you really want the defence of the country entrusted to those 'lazy hoodies'?

Not particularly, but learning discipline and respect would be a good start.


Oh, and yes - And getting up before mid-day !

How about 6 months of boot camp for every 16 year-old who leaves school with no qualifications?

Yes, I like it!

I don't

No disrespect intended englishangel - obviously there would have to be some justifiable exceptions.
I'd like to see some of those drunken little t..ts who totter around city centres every Friday & Saturday night showing their drawers - and more -, screaming, fighting and vomiting, put into such a camp though!

............ and not one suggestion from Neill....... YET !!

Neill has been in Knowle (Adjacent to B'ham but more half-timbered !) visiting latest Grandchild, so has not-- yet -- picked up on this until today -- Monday !

In my view, National Service was the making of British Youth ----- but the RUINATION of the British Army.
It is difficult to instil enthusiasm in a Soldier, who. in his first week, puts up a calender, to cross off the days to de-mob !
There are exceptions --- but they are few !

Demmit Sir ! the 30th of Foot was never like that !!

(Actually it was --- as the East Lancashire Regiment 1st Battallion ---the 59th wa the 2nd Battallion !)

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:Neill has been in Knowle (Adjacent to B'ham but more half-timbered !) visiting latest Grandchild, so has not-- yet -- picked up on this until today -- Monday !

In my view, National Service was the making of British Youth ----- but the RUINATION of the British Army.
It is difficult to instil enthusiasm in a Soldier, who. in his first week, puts up a calender, to cross off the days to de-mob !
There are exceptions --- but they are few !

Welcome TBA (as opposed to tbA referred to elsewhere). I missed it by months but I know people who were in it.
"A" (my brother-in-law actually) was a Mess Steward who got a liking for what was served up so for the next umpteen years he ate and drank "well". He sees about 4 specialist weekly - heart (several ops so far), liver, kidney, lungs, blood system, gout, diabetes, .......... Why he didn't die 10 years ago none of us can understand. All from his time in National Service.

"B" a neighbour in France, as a cadet, was helping operate RADAR systems so when he did National Service in the RAF he knew more than all the specialist electronics officers and NCOs - which didn't go down well!

There were a lot who learned to read and write in the Army / Air Force and a lot more who learned criminal methods etc there. Remember that in those days it was more like the Somme - throw enough people into the battle and the enemy will run out of bullets.

There were a lot who learned to read and write in the Army

And sadly, they still are............