大象传媒

By Sergeant James Wareing 110th Regiment RAC.

I was in 鈥淣orthumbria鈥� doing individual training when news came through that I and one of my Lance Corporals had won places on the 鈥淥fficers Selection Squad鈥�. Initially we travelled down to Blackdown to join our pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit (pre-OCTU).

It was Friday morning when we reported and we soon settled in with the rest of the day being free. In the afternoon the pre-OCTU were playing Rugby so I went along to watch and assess their standard of play. All I could do was shout and give encouragement as I ran up and down the line. Unknown to me the RSM had been watching as well and wanted to know who the cadet was making all the noise, telling his team what to do and what not to do. After the game he checked my records and found that I had played for Silloth RUFC and won a county cap for Cumberland during the 1938-39 season.

After dinner that evening the pre-OCTU RSM came round to the mess and we had a good natter about everything and especially Rugby. He asked me if I could do any better than the team we had watched earlier. Naturally I replied, 鈥淵es Sir鈥�. The following morning I was surprised to find Captain Tim Warr the officer in charge of PT at Sandhurst knocking on my door. It was confirmed that my files and everything were in order which meant that I was eligible to play that afternoon for Sandhurst if selected. First however I had to transfer the few miles to Sandhurst as my time in pre-OCTU was to be limited to one day. As the senior cadet I had the honour of marching my troop into Sandhurst for the morning parade.

I played for Sandhurst several times against many of the big clubs such as Wasps, Harlequins, RAF and Navy. I became leading try scorer and kicked 70 goals. During my training I sustained an injury whilst swinging across a river on a rope and went into hospital. The chap in the next bed, upon learning my name, told me I had been selected to play for the England Services XV (effectively England) at Cardiff Arms Park. This was a strange way to hear of my selection but of course my injury meant missing the game. Later I represented the Army against Wales at the Arms Park. The two teams were mostly international Rugby League players and therefore professionals. It is worthy of mention that before and after the war right up to 1997 when Union went professional, any Rugby League player, professional or amateur, faced a life time ban from playing Union. In addition any Union club found fielding an ex league player could be banned. After the war I was to 鈥渄efect鈥� to league and had the honour of winning all three trophies in the professional game.

At Sandhurst we were allowed to select someone as a roommate during the first week of training. We were also allowed to indicate the regiment we would prefer to join after passing out. However we were not allowed to return to our previous regiments as we would have too many old friends there. Naturally I chose my Lance Corporal as my roommate and we both opted for the Kentish Regiment 鈥淭he Buffs鈥�. Although I was successful my roommate was turned down. This was greatly distressing for me as my roommate was a Man of Kent whereas I, of course, was a northerner. Subsequently I discovered that my new Lieutenant Colonel had captained Scotland at Rugby and this may have influenced his decision to accept me and not my Lance Corporal. The colonel鈥檚 name was Waddall.

I was looking forward to the training at Sandhurst which consisted of 18 weeks of hard work. The schedule was to be split up as follows in order :
4 weeks elementary infantry training;
4 weeks wireless training 鈥� this I did not enjoy;
4 weeks gunnery training: this I could have bypassed because I had the same certificate (first class pass) as the instructor having already been in the RAC;
6 weeks of combining the previous training.

Selection of the winner of the Sword of Honour took place in the final week 鈥� but in our case the prize was a baton because we were at war.

During the final week I was taken to one side and, in a departure from standard practice, was informed that I would have won the Baton of Honour had I not gone absent without leave for 48 hours. This had been during the initial infantry training in North Wales. We were all entitled to a 48hour pass if we kept out of trouble. Anyone lucky enough to be going north could leave from Crewe which I would have done had I being going home to Silloth in Cumberland. I took advantage of the situation however by taking the longer journey to Swindon via London to visit my wife. This meant leaving early.

I was not in charge of the troop and that gave me a big break. I told the Scots lad in charge of us my plan and asked him not to report me absent unless the officer asked after me. If the officer did enquire as to my whereabouts I stressed he 鈥淲AS NOT TO TAKE THE CAN鈥�. On returning to Sandhurst I handed in my pass on Sunday evening at lights out. At reveille (6am) the following morning I was in line in the corridor ready for duty so as far as anyone knew I had not been absent. However when the cadet reported to the troop officer who had done what on Friday and Saturday I was in deep trouble.

鈥淎WOL at Sandhurst? Never heard of it!!鈥�

I was up in front of the squadron leader as to why I was absent. I told him I had got as far as London, met some friends and got drunk. He replied that the excuse was not good enough. This was equivalent to getting lost in the desert with a tank. The charge was too severe for him to handle so the matter would have to go to the colonel. I told the colonel that the 2nd lieutenant in charge of the Welsh exercise had it in for me no matter how hard I tried. Fortunately Captain Warr said I would make a good officer given the chance and I got off with 10 days restrictions and 2 days 鈥淩oyal Warrant. This meant reporting to the Guard Room every time the bugle sounded for 10 days and 2 days loss of pay not just for me but for my wife as well! After that I never put a foot wrong.

On joining The Buffs in Kent with my commission I discovered that my unit had been equipped with Crocodiles which were flame throwing tanks. Top secret at this stage they turned out to be a huge success. The CO informed me that the regiment was complete and ready for action meaning The Invasion of Europe. I was put in the forward delivery squadron and I was to be the first officer to take over a troop as a replacement. This meant that my initial role on reaching Normandy was to be a liaison officer. It was not long however before I was in combat.

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