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Before Kasfareet...via Cardington, West Kirby and Warton.
New sprogs on the block....me second from left front row.
Coronation week 1953.We had only been there a couple of days and they had to let us out on leave for one day on Coronation Day. Lucky for me that Cardington was only just in the next county and stood on the Birches bus route for London/Rushden. Got bollacked by snowdrop on the main gate. Would not let me home with a windsor knot in my RAF tie. Took me ages to remember how to tie it the old fashioned way.
On our first day at Cardington and probably first time out of the billet in blues, I got bollacked by a little pilot officer for not saluting him.
I did not even recognise him as an officer, you could hardly make out the thin line on his shoulder !
Had to sneak a peek into the big sheds at Cardington where the old airships used to be hangered. Only barrage balloons there when I looked.
My medical grading card. I passed AI even though my right knee cartilage was playing up and my knee was locked at an angle. To touch my toes, I had to crouch down ! It seems that this was acceptable.
Main Gate to the infamous RAF West Kirby. Our home for the next eight weeks of squarebashing. We were tipped off from lorries in the sheds to the accompaniment of screamed obscenities from the awaiting drill instructors. Welcome to hell for the next four weeks !
The second four weeks were not so bad once you had learned to live with the system. I got jankers for not screaming loud enough when bayonetting a straw filled sack ! When the grass grew too long outside our billet, we all paraded outside to cut it using our mess knife and fork !
I have recently been contacted by Terry Williams, second from right in centre row. He spent his first years at RAF Innsworth before being sent to Aden in June 1956.
Our billet squad at West kirby. I am extreme right of the back row. Seated on the front row extreme right again is Bob Scaratt from Broughton. Never saw him again after square bashing. Next to him is my mate Roy Whistance.
I have recently been contacted by Terry Williams, second from right in centre row. He spent his first years at RAF Innsworth before being sent to Aden in June 1956.
The local SS Waffen Group sometimes referred to as Drill Instructors. Our billet corporal is on the right.
Our training wing on parade. Pity I missed out on the passing out parade but I was excused boots due to blisters on my heels !
This is what every billet had to look like for inspections. Even the shovel handles had to be scraped clean.
In the NAAFI at Warton near Blackpool, waiting to be shipped out overseas.
Still in the NAAFI
Last night at Warton. Waiting to go out on the town at Blackpool. We had been paid travelling expenses. I got 1/6d !
Had to borrow some cash for beers and paid it back first pay day in Egypt.
