SURVIVAL IN THE HIGHLANDS

At the end of the second term at Sandhurst during the Easter Break I went on a survival course in the Highlands . This was primarily for officer cadets from RAF Cranwell (RAF equivalent to Sandhurst ). About six of us from Sandhurst volunteered to do the course .After  all these years I am not sure of the exact location of the base camp but it was in the vicinity of Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch Ness .

I had a few days leave in Glasgow before I had to head north . On the Fri before I left I went to a party with my chums from school who were now at Glasgow University. As I was getting on rather well with this girl from school it did cross my mind I had been an idiot to volunteer . This was to some degree confirmed when from the warmth of her arms I was transposed to being freezing at the bottom of some mountain in the Highlands .
In retrospect the instruction was not all that informative compared what I subsequently learned on the Jungle Warfare Course in Malaya and with the SAS . We spent most days tramping around the hills taking it in turn to navigate . All this in preparation for the final escape and evasion exercise when we were divided into three man patrols and had to make our way cross country hunted by the RAF Regiment .

I do remember General Wade's Roads criss crossing the area . Sometime after the rebellion in 1715 Gen Wade had been dispatched  north to inspect Scotland. Between 1725 &1737 he directed the construction  of some 250 miles of roads , plus about forty bridges linking the garrisons at Ruthven , Fort George , Fort Augustus and Fort William .
There is of course that verse of the National Anthem which was popular in London in 1745 :

                        Lord grant that Marshall Wade
                        May by thy mighty aid Victory bring .       
                        May sedition hush ,
                        And like a torrent rush ,
                        Rebellious Scots to crush .
                        God save the King !  

Not surprising the Scots adopted The Flower of Scotland . Just wish it would help them score more tries !

For the final exercise I was paired up with two would be pilots , one had been to Eton the other had gone to Marlborough. On our first night we were dropped off from a blacked out truck .Prior to that we had been searched to make sure we had no money . We had limited rations ,a map and a compass.

Our first problem was to find out where the hell we were . That did not prove to be too difficult as we found a public telephone box , dialed 0 and with my best Scottish accent asked the operator where we were having given her the number . Satisfied with our success we found a barn and kipped down . Here is where the training was wrong   : we should have moved at night and hid by day . That said crossing Cairngorms at night can be quite dangerous as the chance of a broken ankle are high.

We knew the Grid Ref of our first RV but as we navigated through this wood we bumped into other patrols who informed us that the RAF Regiment were guarding the bridge over the river at Fort Augustus . This posed a major problem as there was no way we were going to attempt to swim the river . Fortunately we bumped into a farmer and after I explained to him that we were on the run from the English he agreed to smuggle us over the bridge in the boot of his car. This he did in two trips . The great advantage of this is that we were now ahead of all the other patrols . After three days only three patrols escaped capture and we were one of them .

However in those days protective clothing was by today's standards pathetic. At night we made a bed in the heather and covered ourselves with groundsheets .Fortunately it did not snow but it was bitterly cold . Somehow I persuaded these two stalwart companions that as I was the smallest I should be in the middle of our heather bed. They say that if you are suffering from hypothermia the best thing is to get into a sleeping bag with a woman preferably well endowed. I had to suffice with two public school boys .They however twigged to this ploy and on subsequent nights positions were rotated. The only other time I can recall being so cold was up Mount Kenya at 15,000 ft.

Three months later I was to return to Scotland to the area of Ullapool . At the end of each year cadets went on a Summer Camp. We marched from Sandhurst through Camberly  headed by the Band and were crammed into this train like sardines for a twelve hour journey to Scotland. Join the Army to see the world , I had still to get out of UK .

Train journeys in the 1960s were not a pleasant affair . I can remember going on Christmas leave and having to sit on my suitcase in the corridor all the way from London to Glasgow. Surrounded by drunken Scots at there worst must compare with some of Angus's Indian train trips.

RMA  SANDHURST

Sandhurst got progressively easier as you progressed through each term although one was always vulnerable to the vagaries of the senior intake who had the capacity to make life difficult for you if they chose to do so .

Providing you looked after your equipment and kept on top of things you had the time to enjoy what Sandhurst had to offer . Weekend passes increased when you got into your second year .

There was a lot of emphasis on sport . I played rugby for New College and if they were short the permanent staff team the Pirates . In the summer I did a lot of canoeing on the Thames in preparation for the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race . My partner was John Bonnel who later joined The Royal Military Police . As we canoed through the night I sometimes wondered why we were not going straight .I was in the front and as John was in the back he controlled the rudder . He had fallen asleep--not surprising his nickname was " kipper ".

Rugby saved my life or so it seemed. I was selected to box for Gaza Company. Having never boxed in my life I was not all that keen but you simply did not refuse .Well the week before I was due to box I watched this enormous Rhodesian thrash this really tough New Zealander. I was the next to get in the ring with this giant . At least it would be over quickly in about three minutes I would be in hospital .

Well on the Sat before my demise New College played the American Embassy at rugby .During the match an American kicked me in the eye & I had to have four stitches . On the Mon we all had to go for a medical before the boxing match . The Academy doctor refused to let me box with stitches in my eye . God bless America !

There were various clubs you could join which met in the evenings .I took up judo for a bit and joined the History Society .

Military training was mixed with academic studies like ; Science and Warfare ; Military History & Current Affairs. Sometimes wonder why did we not do three years and get a degree at the end. It is totally different now as the majority of cadets have got a civilian degree before entry and the course at Sandhurst is just one year .

They say never volunteer : well I did for a survival course in Scotland. I think that can wait till the next blog.

RMA  SANDHURST  FIRST TERM

On a recent visit to the West Point Museum it was interesting to examine in the display cabinets all the items issued to cadets .It reminded me of those first weeks at Sandhurst when every day you were issued with more kit ( at least 50 different items ) which had to be cleaned , polished ,pressed or had something done to it . No patent leather shoes for us and gortex had not been invented .I think we were paid £ 10 per month : most of it went on buying cleaning materials ( must have made Rob De Root's Company a fortune ! ) .

We had changing parades whereby you had to get into combat kit , then No 1 Dress ,   then PT Kit etc . There were endless inspections . The dreaded phrase was " Take his Name " as that meant you were on Show Parade the next morning at 7 am . Lights out were at 2200 hrs but we would be cleaning kit by candlelight to avoid getting nicked the  next morning
You started to learn a new vocabulary .Idle was a favourite word as in idle tie ( not pinned down with a safety pin ) . You could be put on report for almost anything : long hair , dirty welts , stud missing from your boots, the list was endless . In fact the most grief came  from the senior cadets in their last term rather than the Regular Army NCOs who instructed you.  

Officers at the Academy came from across the Army but the NCOs were either Brigade of Guards or Infantry of the Line . Of the Infantry many came from famous Regiments which no longer exist like : Durham Light Infantry (DLI) , Lancashire Fusiliers , Cameronians etc . I think that what got us through that first term was the fact that these NCOs had a sense of humour . When my platoon had our 30th Anniversary Dinner in London all our NCO instructors were there . Most had by that stage been commissioned as quartermasters .This was only to be expected as to get to be an NCO at Sandhurst they had to go through a selection process .

All of us were in the same situation and slowly or not so slowly we shaped up as you can see from the photograph .

You were not allowed out for the first six weeks but having " passed off the square " there was a party in a local pub  few went back sober .

Drill was pretty dominant feature of the first term but subjects included weapon training , map reading , obstacle courses & PT.

I must admit that during the first term the only place I felt safe was in the bath . At least for 15 min a day you could not be charged with failing to comply with some rule .

Then it was over , a new intake arrived and we were no longer the sprogs .

RMA SANDHURST

In Sep 1960 I departed from Glasgow Central Station with two suitcases , my grandfather's bible , my father's wedding ring and £18 to become 23835042 Officer Cadet A E Thompson .

I was taking " The High Road to England " the first pupil from Hillhead High School for probably two decades .

About twelve hours later I was at Camberly Station . There was Sergeant Butcher , Grenadier Guards , on the platform resplendent with red sash and peaked cap. "Anyone for Sandhurst get on the truck ."

Outside Old College were assembled  250 cadets of Intake 29 . Some arrived by truck like me others were delivered by parents in Jaguars & even a Rolls Royce .

In those days there were about 1,000 cadets at RMA Sandhurst divided into three Colleges : Old , New and Victory . There were four companies in each College . The Army at that time was approx 250,000. It is now about to be reduced to 82,000

We waited for our names to be called out . I was to go to Gaza Company , New College. There were 21 of us in my platoon . The make up was varied : Public Schools (7) ,Grammer Schools (4) , Welbeck Coll ( Army 6th Form Coll for those going into technical arms or services ) (6) & three from overseas ( Jamaica , Nigeria & Iraq ) And of course me .

Having been allocated rooms we were quickly assembled (still in our civilian clothes ) to be given a tour of the Academy by our platoon Sgt Jack Hall of the Royal Fusiliers (London Regiment).

On a hot day we were marched round the Academy at a fast pace " Halt look right that is the library--If you can read you will find books in there. "

After two hours , dripping in sweat , we were meant to be familiar with our new home for the next two years . There were a total of six terms , the first and last being purely military. It was in the first term that they put their stamp on you so you could become a worthy "Son of Sandhurst ". Hell was about to commence .

REGULAR COMMISSIONS BOARD (RCB)

Having decided to have a go at getting to Sandhurst, Peter Jopp my friend in the CCF decided he would also try. Unfortunately my other friend ,Gordon Imrie , did not pass the medical . They discovered he had a heart problem . However, five years later I linked up with him on a course and he had got a Short Service Commission in the RHF .

After our last CCF Camp at Cultybraggan  Peter and I headed south to attend the Regular Commissions Board (RCB) in Westbury  , Wiltshire . First we went to a large CCF Parade in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and then spent the weekend in a Boy Scout Hostel in London . Unfortunately for us the tube on the underground broke down and we missed our scheduled train to Westbury. Arriving late did not seem like a good start.

RCB is essentially a four day extended interview : Douglas knows the score . There were essays to write , written appreciations , current affairs test ,obstacle course , command tasks , and lots of interviews.

The trickiest interview was with a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers . After all the usual questions like : why do you want to join the Army ; what makes you think you can be an officer and what does Daddy do ; he suddenly said " what stirs you emotionally ." I thought this is the trick question. You are not meant to get married till at least 25 so don't say girls on the other hand he might get the wrong impression . I said " a massed pipe band " He continued with "what else " so I explained I had watched Derek Ibbotson almost win the mile record at Glasgow Police Sports in Ibrox ."Why did you find this emotional was the next question . I responded with national pride. "why do you hesitate was  his riposte .Ibottsons English I said in all innocence . This did not go down well. However, not to be outfaced I ventured ( knowing he was in a Welsh Regiment ) " Sir, surely you would not support England at Cardiff Arms Park ?" He responded I am English.

I thought this interview is not going at all well :bye bye Sandhurst. The strange thing was that some general was sitting in an armchair behind me and seemed to find it all very amusing .

Peter and I headed back to Scotland to await our fate.We had been told the results would be sent by post and we should get them within four days .

On the fourth day (Mon) I was due to go to the farm .I took a gamble on the Sunday night and went to the Post Office Depot in a lane just off Byres Rd . The man in charge listened to my story and agreed to have a look .Eureka--he handed me this official looking envelope.As I walked along this narrow lane I was almost too nervous to open the envelope. Nevertheless I did ; I had passed and was given a date to report to Sandhurst . Even today I find it difficult to express my total sense of relief .

Back home my mother seemed to take it in her stride .I phoned my best friend in the Scouts and he was really pleased .

On Monday I headed off to the farm but before I went I rang Peter Jopp .He had failed .It was difficult to console him . Later he tried RCB again but did not pass although through Glasgow OTC he got a commission in the TA .

At the farm I am not sure how Aunt Margaret took it .There is that Scottish syndrome "I hope he does not get too big for his own boots ! "

Years later when I was a Colonel I had an interesting conversation with a fellow Scot who was about to be the Chief Fire Officer for Birmingham on a substantial salary. Somehow I alluded to this syndrome. He knew exactly what I meant and illustrated his experience when he went back home to a little village near Aberdeen . He would often hear it said "Oh Willie became a fireman ." No recognition that he was a very senior fire brigade officer

As they say the highest praise you will get from a Scot is " Its nae bad ."

Before I left the farm I had to return for a day to go to a recruiting office in Glasgow to sign on . Although about to be an officer cadet you had to be a private in something .I became a Fusilier in the RHF .

I took my second oath of allegiance  "To The Queen and to those Ministers she may chose to appoint ."

I was a soldier .

Amazingly they gave me £25 for expenses and a weeks pay . I was rich .