252 And Other Numbers

The British Army is run on numbers-well at least thats how I see it. Section this-section that, sub-section this...........and so-on. The Army Act is a Book of Numbers, totally different though to the biblical Book of Numbers.

In support of this, here is a short extract from John Silkstones remeniscences:

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NOT ON MY ‘AFI 1157’ SIR!

One day, Private Providence and I were placed on a charge for disobeying ‘Part One Orders’. When asked if I had anything to say, I replied:

“Sir, the orders stated that the following soldiers with Greatcoats on their AFI 1157 (AFI 1157 is a recorded list of clothing that is issued to a soldier) are to report to the QM's department. As I don’t have a Greatcoat on my AFI 1157, I did not report, Sir.”

The CO 'phoned the QM and verified that I didn’t have a greatcoat on my AFI 1157. He then asked Providence if he had anything to say, to which he replied, "I forgot Sir."

Smiling, the CO said, “I hope you won’t forget to stay behind when I dismiss Silkstone?”

Poor Providence received 14 days RPs, as this was his second offence in two days.

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I don't know what you think, but John's story reinforces my number theory.

Still Looking For Your Articles

Hi To Everybody,

 I hope that all of you who visit have been enjoying the same kind of weather that we have here in UK. This evening being slightly different though in the South East-thunder and lightening and the odd spot of rain.

My thanks go to all visitors to this site. Thanks go to visitors from UK, Russia, Australia,Cyprus,Spain,Germany, Singapore, France, Norway, Denmark and the USA.

So, now it is time to ask again for material to post on the Blog. If any of you served in Tidworth Military Hospital or any of the medical units in the Tidworth area, I am sure you will have something you can share with us. It doesn't matter how short the article, I promise it will be welcomed and be of interest to all who visit.

You can also get in touch if you were a patient in the hospital between 1907 and 1977 when it closed, you can get in touch if you met your partner/wife/husband in the area. Were your children born there?

 Just go to the word comment at the end of this article, and leave a message for me. You can give me your email address at the same time. I promise you, this is a secure site and that your message cannot be seen by anyone other than yourself. I will not publish your message-but will publish your articles as you send them to me as attachments to your email to me. You can send them in word or pdf format.

I'll be publishing Part Three of "Once Upon A Time" in a couple of days time, when I get over the shock of my football team beating Brighton on Easter Monday.

I really look forward to receiving what ever you can send in.

Best wishes to all visitors,

Peter

Kure British Commonwealth Hospital Japan

Image via Wikipedia

Recently, and quite by accident I came across a website, the likes of which I gad not seen before. It is essentially about the memories of British National Servicemen in Japan between 1950 and 1956.
The site address is http://www.kurememories.com/

The site was set up by and is maintained by David Oates. David trained as an Operating Theatre Technician in TidworthMilitary Hospital. The site contains some very personal memories of times spent in Kure.

I wholeheartedly recommend that you visit the site and spend some time reading the accounts posted there.

Thank you David for sharing your memories, and of course my thanks go to the colleagues who also contributed.

Kure today is a busy and important city in the Hiroshima Province and is famous amongst other things for being where Japans largest ever battleship, the Yamato.

Once Upon A Time................................Part Two

It's time to get to August 1964, late on a Tuesday afternoon, although the exact date escapes me. It's a little after 4pm and all decent Admin and Stores staff are preparing to disappear for the day. No-one needs two new postings-in to arrive at that time. Well, we did. Phil Reeves and I arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed on the doorstep of the Orderly Sgts office to announce our arrival. This was it. I had arrived in 20 company RAMC, Tidworth Military Hospital. I was over the moon.

It's quite amazing the lack of warmth that exuded from the Corporal, known locally as the Orderly Sgt.(Took me a long time to work out this rank thing!!) The RSM was, to be brutally honest, no more welcoming. I feel that he didn't exactly take to me when answering what I should have known was a rhetorical question. "Just how Blah Blah long does it take to get from North Wales to Tidworth. You are Blah Blah late!!!" My attempts to describe reasonably accurately the distances involved and the lateness of trains was interupted by, " I suppose you'll say it was in a different Blah Blah time zone as well." Lesson Number 1. Don't even attempt to answer questions put to you by those of a higher rank and obviously superior intelligence. Next, when asked where all my kit was I kept quiet. To me it was quite clear, I had two suitcases, one each stood either side of me. Lesson Number 2. Always answer a question asked by those of a higher rank and obviously superior intelligence. I felt unsafe at that point and decided army life was not for me.

Off to the barrack room next, followed by a trip to the Stores to collect mattress and bedding. Question. Why are the stores always at the furthest point possible away from the barrack room?

Soon bedding was sorted I was changed into civvies and out looking for the cookhouse. What a surprise that turned out to be. I couldn't believe how good the food was and the smallness of the dining area compared with what I had known at Rhyl. This place was almost like home. Table cloths, cups and saucers, salt and pepper pots and a civilised environment in which to relax. Home from Home.

Next morning came and it dawned on me that I was again going to meet my new found friend, RSM Dickie North. At 8.30 am I was marched into his office for the "official" welcome. He could not have been nicer. He welcomed me to the Regular Army, wished me every success for the future-and then ruined it all by barking such phrases as "bloody ex-boys, no more pampering, you know nothing, got it all to come" and more.

Next-to the Company Commanders office, just next door. "When I call you to attention I want to see that foot drive into the ground and I want to hear you shout SIR, understood? March into the office, right wheel in front of the desk, mark time until I shout Halt and then a smart right turn to face the officer." Is this all his life consisted of I thought, just barking at people. No way did I want to become an RSM if that were the case. This interview left me somewhat confused. The "officer" referred to earlier by the RSM, simply asked him where I was from, what my trade was, had I settled in ok and where was I going to be working. The officer was clearly satisfied by the answers given by the RSM and I was marched out. My next appointment struck me as a little odd I have to say. I was being taken to meet the Matron.

What a change in attitude and manner. All was calm, polite chit chat and a very warm welcome was the order of the moment. Eventually she asked what was my trade. I said I was a Medical Assistant, Class 3. She asked what training was like at Rhyl and did I have any ward experience as well as in casualty and with the Ambulance services. Lesson Number 3. Don't over egg the pudding when describing what you have done. She immediately started rubbing her hands in glee, without actually doing so if you get my drift. I found myself being assigned to working on the wards. She would not listen to me when I told her over and over that I was an MA3, not a nurse. I was told that I would be given a day off the next day which was Thursday. Friday morning I would report to Surgical Ward Two, Delhi Hut for a familiarisation session and then report for night duty at 7.45pm for the hand-over report. After that I would be on my own although night sister could be contacted via Reception. (NO bleeps or pagers in those days.)

This I did not need. I had joined up to be an Operating Theatre Technician not a nurse. Clearly I was still not a nurse, but the Matron was convinced that I was. ( I found out later that the hospital was short of nurses and I had opened my trap at the wrong time thereby condemning myself to my fate.)

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In Part Three I'll take you on the nightmare ride that was my introduction to Surgical Nursing, my total failure to understand what the hell I was doing in the Army as well as my fears for the future!!!

 

Once Upon A Time..................Part One

Once upon a time, way back in in August 1964, I joined 20 Company RAMC, Tidworth Military Hospital. It was my first full day of Mans Service and I was as excited as a young man could be on such an occasion! It was a Tuesday, around 4.30pm, but the exact date escapes me. I couldn't wait for the next day to dawn. When it did however, I began to have second thoughts about what I had done in joining the British Army.

The story actually starts a year before that. I had been "fortunate" enough to pass the entrance examination at the Oxford Recruitment Office. I had chosen the trade of Operating Theatre Technician as my chosen career, and bluffed my way through the selection process to the point where I was told I had scored sufficient points in the exams and had had bluffed the phsychologist to the point where I was considered intelligent enough to be able to learn the trade.(I've always thought this a little odd as I was a country bumpkin from a small village, who had done little more in life prior to this than earn pocket money by delivering groceries by bicycle at the weekends and nick the odd packet of 10 Players Navy Cut from the shop when I thought no-one was looking. I was a kind if early day Granville as later seen in Open All Hours.) In truth, I think the army was a bit short of volunteers and I was in the wrong place at the right time!!

It was to the Junior Tradesmans Regiment, Rhyl that was sent a short while later. I was beside myself with excitement. I was going to be a soldier, I was going to Rhyl (where the hell was Rhyl?) Later found out it was in North Wales-yipee, I'm going abroad!(I said I was a village bumpkin didn't I.) The village of Twford was about to lose it's Idiot. 

Wow, what a different world I landed in. I won't go on too much about the early days-I'm sure the first days after joining up were more or less the same for all of us, male and female. After the first few days it was on with the training. As a junior Medic I was destined to train to the standard of MA3. Thats Medical Assistant Class Three for any non-miltary persons reading this. It wasn't only MA training ahead of me. Teaching us to march in an organised and fully co-ordinated way was the first task the drill pigs, sorry Drill Sgts attempted with the likes of myself. I was lucky I suppose. I got it right almost immediately. General and Military education  was delivered by school teachers dressed as officers in The Royal Army Education Corps, and damned good they were too. Biology was delivered by a civilian by the name of Mr Roberts. Weapon training was a must for all-regardless of future Corps or Regiment. I was very keen on this aspect of my training. I trained in the use of the L.M.G., and S.L.R., and could load a magazine in the time it took to recite the Lords Prayer (not my strongest point you will gather) I was, surprisingly to those who know me perhaps, a dashed fine shot with the S.L.R., and S.M.G. I achieved Marksman status with both although it didn't officially count for Medics.

As well as military training, we Medics of the future were put to good use, at the same time as improving our skills, by working with the local Ambulance Service and at The Princess Alexandra Hospital on the seafront in Rhyl. Shortly before leaving, I was sent to work at the Prince Edward War Memorial Hospital, to which the Casualty Department was moved after the Alex department was closed. At the Alex, I worked on the wards, generally bottom washing and keeping things neat and tidy, as well as in the extremely busy casualty department. I grew up quite quickly in that department. Seeing and handling victims of road accidents was a real shocker at first. One saturday morning is etched on my mind. It was fairly early and there was a real humdinger of a thunderstorm overhead. Two victims of a road accident were wheeled in. I remember a young boy of around 5 years of age screaming and screaming, trying to reach out to his father who lay on the trolley next to him. I had to restrain him while at the same time try to reassure him. I found it particularly difficult I have to say. His father was dead.

Four terms later, and I was considered suitable to be let loose on an unsuspecting Tidworth Military Hospital. So, fully armed with my MA3 qualification, my Army Certificate of Education Class 3, I set off for Tidworth. In Part 2, I'll tell you what bother the MA3 got me into.

Re: Biennial Reunion MSA/DMED and AMED

Back in March I was asked to post a reminder about the biennial reunion of MSA/DMED and AMED to be held 17th September 2011.

I have received a message, asking if I have received any contact from any of our readers regarding this celebration. Sadly, no-one has been in touch.

Does anyone know how to contact the organising group/individual behind this years get together?

If you do, or if you know anyone who might, please leave me a message via the contact button at the bottom of this item.

Many thanks.

Peter

New Articles For The Blog

Image via WikipediaHello to all of you reading this. I'm looking for contributers to the Blog. You don't have to be a Man Booker Prize winner to write an article about your unit in Tidworth and surrounding areas.

You can tell us of your experiences while in the Tidworth area. What were your favourite pubs, mess activities, etc. Who were your friends, did you meet your future wife in the area, the list could go on and on. You might not feel you have anything of interest to the rest of us, but I'm sure your articles will be.

If you would like to contribute an article, however short, however long, please just click on the "comment" word beneath this article and leave a message. You can safely leave your email address as your comments are sent directly to me and will not be published until I have authorised it as the administrator. I will not authorise publication of any private or confidential information. I will then contact you, asking you to send your article to me via email as an attachment. The attachment can be Word or Pdf.

I look forward to hearing from you all.

Peter Haynes

Unnoficial World Record

Many thanks to John Silkstone for the following contribution:

This little snippet is about Tony Fry. Tony and I became great friends and kept in touch from our first meeting in 1962 to his death due to cancer on the 28th July 2010.

Rest in peace Tony.

Silky

UNOFFICIAL WORLD RECORD

Towards the end of 1962, I was asked to perform the ‘Last Offices’ on a patient that had passed away. I asked male nurse Tony Fry to give me a hand; I don’t think he’d seen a cadaver before, and was a little reluctant to assist.

After screening the bed, I showed Tony how we washed, shaved and prepare a body for burial. After washing the front, I ask Tony to give me a hand to turn the body over. Tony was still reluctant, but assisted in turning the body and as we did so, the body expelled some air from the lungs, thus making a groaning sound.

The great feat of Roger Bannister breaking the four minute mile in 1954 was nothing compared to the speed that Tony recorded that day.

On the 4th of December 1962, Tony and Jan Lord both sail on HMS Oxfordshire on its last troop sailing. Jan and some other QARANC nurses were on their way to BMH Gibraltar, while Tony was one of the medics on the round trip and returned to the Tidworth hospital after the voyage.

The Tidworth Drummer-The REAL Story?

To find the origins of the story of the Drummer, famed for his connection with Tedworth, now known as Tidworth in Wiltshire, we have to go back to 1661. To reasearch the story fully however we have to refer to a book entitled "Saducismus Triumphatus." This simply means the triumph over saducism which implies the denial of an afterlife. (The Saducees, a Jewish sect in strict denial of life after death.) This book, written by Joseph Glanville and published posthumously in 1681, takes a look at witchcraft.

The story of the Drummer is the story of what some described as a poltergeist and a particularly mischievious one at that. In 1661 John Mompesson, a Justice of the Peace and living in Tedworth, had to deal with a man named Drury, an ex-drummer in the army of Oliver Cromwell. He was accused of demanding money under false pretences  using a "pass" bearing the signature of Colonel Ayliff of Gretenham. Mompesson refused to believe the story, doubted the authenticity of the signature and declared the document to be a forgery.

As a reward for his attempted deceipt, the drum belonging to Drury was confiscated and taken to Mompesson's house for safe keeping. Drury was "sent on his way" escaping any form of arrest or imprisonment.

On his return, Mompesson's wife told him of the terrible happenings that had occured during his absence. The family had been frightened by strange noises in the night, which she attributed to burglars, though nothing was missing. A couple of nights later Mompesson was woken by a loud knocking at a door. He took a pistol, opened the door but found no-one there. The noise then moved to another door. Again no-one was to be seen. At the same time as the knocking, the sound of drumming could be heard apparently coming  from the roof of the house. From that night on, the sound came just after the household retired for the night. Regardless of the time they retired, early or late, the drumming began.

It was just a matter of a few weeks when the noises started to come from inside the house. This time the sound came from the room in which the drum was stored. Night after night the drumming was heard around the house, with the noise lasting for up to two hours each time. As if this was not inconvenience enough, the poltergeist became physically apparrent in as much that it started banging doors, making scratching noises on the floor under the childrens beds, shaking and moving beds as well as throwing shoes into the air.

In January 1662, the poltergeist became vocal! It was capable of singing, and screaming the phrase "A witch, a witch, I am a witch," over and over. Mompesson decided to engage a man of the Church to help find the cause and get rid of the poltergeist. The Reverend Joseph Glanville set up an investigation. The poltergeist became most co-operative at this point, making it quite clear that it was there to stay.

While all this was going on, Drury found himself in Gloucester Gaol, following a charge of theft being proven against him. Mompesson had him questioned about the happenings back in Tedworth. Drury readily admitted to cursing him for taking his drum. This did not please the Justice of the Peace, who had him tried for withcraft at Sarum. The sentence was that Drury be sentenced to transportation to the English Colonies. I can find no reference to whether this solved the problem, but I can only assume it did.

Moving forward to 1841, Charles Mackay published his work, "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds." In it he suggests the tale of the drummer was nothing more than an elaborate hoax, dreamed up by Mompesson in order to make money. The story of the drummer went on to become a point of conflict between Restoration Science and Superstition.

In closing, I refer to what was described as an appearance of The Drummer in America in 1730. A report in The Pensylvania Gazette told of two Reverends who had experienced similar problems to those in Tedworth, desribed as being "not a whit less obstrepreous than the Tedsworth Tympanist." The poltergeist apparently beat out such tunes as "Scots Traveller" and the "Grenadiers March." It is thought that the supposed letter from the two Reverends was actually written by Benjamin Franklin. He, as you might know, was infamous for his hoaxes.

So, what do we make of it all? Was the first story an elaborate hoax? Possibly. The second story? Probably.

To believe or not to believe-I leave that entirely up to you!!

Not Forgotten

Just to let everyone know that I haven't forgotten you all OR the Blog. I've been out of circulation for a couple of days, most of that time spent on researching the Tidworth, or more correctly the TEDWORTH DRUMMER. (The Domesday Book lists it as Toderode.)

Having recently written a short and fictional article about the Drummer, I decide to to take a deeper look at the story. Having done that, I'll publish my results tomorrow, 2/4/11. Didn't want to do it today in case ot was sen as an Aprils Fools joke.

Please put a comment in the comment area at the end of this article if you would like to write an article for publishing on the Blog.